An in-depth review of the internal relationships of the EFQM model
Abstract
Purpose
The European Foundation for Quality Management (EFQM) model is widely used as a management tool in companies. Consequently, it is of great importance to understand the relationships within it, and inform managers about appropriate ways to manage events in order to get the desired results in general, and for specific interest groups (stakeholders). The paper aims to discuss these issues.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper analyzes the internal relationships of the EFQM model using empirical data from a sample of 199 Spanish companies. Four managers in each company were interviewed, to eliminate single respondent bias. Structural equation modeling is used for the analysis.
Findings
The results obtained from the empirical analysis provide evidence of an underlying logic in the EFQM model that does not match the official model. New significant relationships between the enablers and results not considered in the official model have been found.
Research limitations/implications
The study focusses on Spanish industrial companies with 50-500 workers and uses a cross-sectional design.
Practical implications
Managers should look at the EFQM model as a tool for finding their own way to excellence, but it is not a precise map, because the model may have some problems of definition. Managers should introduce its elements only after deep reflection on its benefit for their company.
Originality/value
Despite the previous research on this issue, there is still no clear consensus. Relationships that are not reflected in the theoretical model have been identified.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
Financial support from Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (Reference project ECO2008-02387) and Fundación CajaMurcia is gratefully acknowledged.
Citation
Gómez, J.G., Martínez Costa, M. and Martínez Lorente, A.R. (2015), "An in-depth review of the internal relationships of the EFQM model", The TQM Journal, Vol. 27 No. 5, pp. 486-502. https://doi.org/10.1108/TQM-05-2013-0056
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2015, Emerald Group Publishing Limited