The EFQM Excellence Model is a non-prescriptive framework based on nine criteria.
Five of these are ‘Enablers’ and four are ‘Results’. The ‘Enabler’ criteria cover what an organisation does. The ‘Results’ criteria covers what an organisation achieves. ‘Results’ are caused by ‘Enablers’.
The Model, which recognises there are many approaches to achieving sustainable excellence in all aspects of performance, is based on the premise that:
Excellent results with respect to Performance, Customers, People and Society are achieved through Leadership driving Policy and Strategy, People, Partnerships & Resources, and Processes.
The models 9 boxes shown below, represent the criteria against which to assess an organisations progress towards excellence. Each of the nine criteria has a definition which explains the high level meaning of that criterion.

To develop the high level meaning further each criterion is supported by a number of sub-criteria. Sub-criteria pose a number of questions that should be considered in the course of an assessment.

Finally, below each sub-criterion are lists of guidance points which are intended to further exemplify the meaning of the sub-criterion.

QMS Solutions provide consultancy and training to assist your business in conducting Business Excellenceself-assessments against the above criterion and work with you in developing your improvement strategy.

Copyright of EFQM and has been provided with permission from European Foundation for Quality Management.