Advantages And Disadvantages Of Efqm

This report will discuss the use of Six Sigma as an approach to improving business strategies and developing an organisations perceived “excellence”. It will investigate the criteria and definitions of the European Foundation for Quality management (EFQM) and assess the advantages and disadvantages of combining Six Sigma with the EFQM business model.

2 Introduction

EFQM is a non-profit foundation that strives to assist organizations in creating an environment in which they can thrive in the field of “excellence”. The EFQM business model offers an outline that encourages collaboration and innovation between different businesses, sharing ideas and best practises to be able to compete on a global scale . This rounded and open approach means

 Managing with agility- Dealing with opportunities and issues in a swift and efficient manner allows an organisation to thrive.

 Succeeding through the talent of people- Encouraging and valuing employees to progress and achieve their professional and personal goals keeps an organisations workforce focussed.

The eight concepts of excellence then form the foundation for the criteria of the model.

3.2 Model Criteria

The EFQM model criteria focuses on nine different principles that describe what an organisation does, how it does it & what it achieves. Five of these principles are “Enablers” and the other four are “Results”. The criteria can be traced back to the fundamental concepts as they share similar ideals. Figure 2 below shows the criteria model with the nine core principles. Figure 2 The EFQM Criteria Model

A brief description of each principle in the enablers;

 Leadership- Leaders that inspire the workforce of the organisation to follow in their visionary footsteps.

 People- Keeping the workforce motivated and making them feel empowered to make some decisions is key to an organisations

3.3 Radar Logic

Figure 3 EFQM Radar logic graphic representation

Figure 3 above shows the EFQM RADAR logic and the four steps needed to achieve it.

An organisation using the EFQM framework needs to look at the Results it is striving to achieve and make sure the strategy is on course to realise them.

An organisation should have a sound set of Approaches that can deliver the desired effects for its business both in the present and in the future.

The approaches should be Deployed in such a way that they tie-in seamlessly with the organisations ultimate goals.

The deployed approaches must then be Assessed and Refined after looking at the results gained, developing strategies going forward that can be carried over to future and existing projects.

RADAR can be a powerful tool in guiding an organisation into the future and in developing and improving current processes. The three stages of the EFQM model all share similarities and combine to help an organisation become excellent. Figures 4 & 5 below show how the Enablers and Results interact with the RADAR