What is the effect of size on the use of the EFQM excellence model?
International Journal of Operations & Production Management
ISSN: 0144-3577
Article publication date: 5 December 2016
Abstract
Purpose
By contrasting a contingency with a universal approach to business excellence models (BEMs), the purpose of this paper is to investigate the effect of size on the use of the European Foundation for Quality Management (EFQM) model by organizations that were officially “Recognized for Excellence” in Spain. It considers the potential differences between large organizations and SMEs on the level of adoption of EFQM criteria and on the impact that enablers-criteria may have on key performance measures.
Design/methodology/approach
This study uses actual sub-criteria and criteria scores attained by organizations in their assessment for EFQM recognition. Scores of a population of 216 organizations are analyzed via analysis of variance, factor and structural equations models.
Findings
Although there are some criteria in the EFQM model that appear to be universally adopted irrespective of size, the empirical analyses indicate that size may shape the adoption of other criteria and the impact that enablers can have on results, thus supporting a contingency perspective. Moreover, the findings call for the revision of the relationships embedded in the EFQM model.
Originality/value
In contrast to most previous research, which relied on surveys of managers’ perceptions, this study uses the actual scores achieved by organizations in their assessment for EFQM recognition. It addresses the effect of size on the whole model, which so far has been neglected in the literature. All in all this study contributes to the literature on contingency approaches to best practices, and more specifically to BEMs. To the practitioner, it provides guidelines for addressing perceived performance gaps in their pursuit of recognition for excellence.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors appreciate the financial support for this research from the Universitat Jaume I and Bancaixa Foundation (Ref. P1.1B2011-52), from the Generalitat Valenciana (Ref. AICO/2015/029) and from the Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad of Spain (Ref. ECO2011-25809, ECO2015-66671-P). The authors are also greatly indebted to the CEG for providing the data, without its support this study would not have been possible.
Citation
Escrig, A.B. and de Menezes, L.M. (2016), "What is the effect of size on the use of the EFQM excellence model?", International Journal of Operations & Production Management, Vol. 36 No. 12, pp. 1800-1820. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJOPM-11-2014-0557
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2016, Emerald Group Publishing Limited