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The purpose of this paper is to study the EFQM model self‐assessment in a Spanish university.

A case study methodology is used based on five services provided by a public university in Spain.

The findings show the steps that one university can follow in order to apply this exercise in a successful manner, its benefits, its obstacles and its key factors such as management and employee commitment, and the support to self‐assessment teams (e.g. training, review).

The paper provides lessons for managers from other universities who wish to develop a self‐assessment exercise.

In recent years, two performance evaluation methodologies have received significant attention in managerial circles: quality audit and self‐assessment. While the quality audit examines the compliance of a quality system with ISO 9000 standards and its suitability to achieve stated objectives, the self‐assessment measures organizational performance against a selected business excellence model. In a continuous improvement effort, an organization can lay out the groundwork by establishing an ISO 9000 quality system, and subsequently use an excellence model to enhance performance, thereby effectively applying both evaluation methodologies. This paper compares the principles and practices of quality audits and self‐assessments, for the purpose of examining their compatibility and providing the basis for integration. Numerous differences in the concepts, purpose, scope and methodology are illustrated, and self‐assessments are found to be more advantageous in enabling continuous improvement. However, it is concluded that audits and self‐assessments are compatible, and further research into the issues of enhancing both methodologies is suggested.

Based on two quality management self‐assessment survey projects conducted in Europe and Australia, the authors compare practices in these parts of the world. The main questions addressed are: why do organisations use self‐assessment?, how do they implement self‐assessment?, and what are the benefits which they obtain from it? Findings suggest companies in both regions differ slightly in how they implement self‐assessment. Both internal and external factors driving self‐assessment are identified, although in the case of Australia there are two different internal factors. One is related to rejuvenating flagging interest in TQM. Several approaches to self‐assessment are also identified including: assessor driven, management driven, employee driven and tools and techniques driven. Some variations between the two samples were identified here. Analysis of the links between success with self‐assessment and methods used suggested that a management driven approach which may be combined with a quality maturity matrix tended to work best.

Examines a range of reasons relating to ISO 9000 series certification and the implementation of total quality management (TQM). Identifies five different types of strategies in relation to the approach taken to ISO 9000 series certification and defines their key characteristics. Also identifies and describes four different types of TQM maturity, following the achievement of ISO 9000 registration. Points out that the development of a TQM approach to managing a business is based on the emotional commitment of the chief executive officer, the understanding and knowledge of the management team about TQM, appropriate systems to stimulate, guide and direct TQM activities, and the involvement and participation of employees in the business. The findings indicate that ISO 9000 series registration can be a tool for organisational change, but only if the organisation has a plan to develop its approach to the management of quality on the principles of TQM.

Plots a path from a base of ISO 9000 series system registration to the effective use of self‐assessment against the criteria of an excellence model (e.g. the European Foundation for Quality Management (EFQM) model or the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award (MBNQA) model). Both the ISO 9000 series and excellence models define the total quality management (TQM) philosophy in a specific way, but at different levels of TQM maturity. The gap between the TQM maturity levels defined through the ISO 9000 series and an excellence model are pointed out in the paper. An eight step approach is described that shows how an organisation can move forward from an ISO 9000 series base to be in a position to challenge for a recognised quality/excellence award. The implementation of self‐assessment against an excellence model is an important element in this migratory path. It is also pointed out that organisations need some experience with TQM before being able to effectively use self‐assessment against an excellence model.

Discusses the key actions which need to be taken by an organization if they wish to progress from ISO 9001 or ISO 9002 registration to a quality award prize winners status. There is a large gap between the ISO 9001 requirements and the European Foundation of Quality Management (EFQM) Model of Business Excellence or other award models. However, organizations wishing to develop to total quality management (TQM) from their ISO 9000 series registration would benefit from studying the award models. This would provide them with the necessary knowledge and understanding of what is involved in a process of continuous improvement. Recommends that having gained this insight that they use one of the traditional and well‐recognized methods to introduce the basics of TQM, before using self‐assessment methods in earnest. Also recommends this approach for those organizations whose development of TQM is immature. In this way self‐assessment would be employed to best advantage.

The purpose of this paper is to study the European Foundation for Quality Management (EFQM) model self‐assessment using a questionnaire approach in eight university administrative services.

Case study methodology on eight services provided by a public university in Spain.

The findings show the steps that an administrative service may follow in order to apply the questionnaire approach to self‐assessment in a successful manner.

Provides lessons for managers from other universities, or other public sector organisations, who wish to develop an exercise in self‐assessment using a questionnaire approach.

The purpose of this paper is to review the literature on self‐assessment processes and to identify the difficulties, benefits and success factors of the European Foundation for Quality Management self‐assessment model, analysing the importance of follow‐up.

First, the paper carries out a literature review on self‐assessment, and then it uses the case study methodology based on ten services provided by a public university in Spain to identify difficulties, benefits and success factors of self‐assessment.

The findings show, first, what the literature suggests on self‐assessment in general and for higher education, and second, the difficulties, benefits and success factors and the importance of follow‐up for successful self‐assessment.

The paper provides a literature review on self‐assessment and lessons for managers from other universities, or other public sector organisations, who wish to know the difficulties, benefits and success factors, and the characteristics of follow‐up.

The purpose of this article is to furnish empirical evidence on the degree of performance of the 23 major requirements of the ISO 9001:2000 standard implemented at Korean shipbuilding machinery manufacturing companies.

Deep interviews and surveys were made to measure how well the companies comply with the requirements of the new standard. Correlation analysis, standard t‐tests, and one‐way ANOVA were employed to identify significant differences for each major requirement depending on company size, top management type, implementation motive, and operating period.

Large‐sized companies achieved compliance with monitoring and measurement better than small‐sized ones; professional manager‐CEOs accomplished compliance with nine major requirements better than owner‐CEOs; companies that certified because of internal development reasons performed compliance with seven major requirements better than those that certified because of customer request; companies with different operating periods showed significant difference in performance for infrastructure, purchasing, and monitoring and measurement.

Adds to the body of knowledge concerning the ISO 9000(2000) version focused on Korean shipbuilding machinery manufacturing companies.

In many industries (e.g. cars and clothing) manufacturing complexity and unpredictability have increased over the last couple of years because of an increasing variety of products and shortening product life cycles. At the same time the manufacturers in these industries appear to have more problems with maintaining high quality levels. This paper aims to develop a methodology to study the effects of these developments on quality management systems.

At three European automotive manufacturers the two trends have been studied by means of a case study approach. Simons' four levers of control model is utilised to categorise and interpret the results of the case studies.

The application of a management control model in the field of quality management is found to be useful in explaining what changes are necessary to maintain high quality levels. From the case studies in the automotive sector it is concluded that there is a shift in quality management systems from a diagnostic towards a more interactive approach. This is in line with what can be expected as a result of the increasing uncertainty in the automotive sector, caused by shortening life cycles of car models and smaller batch sizes.

This research presents a novel application of Simons' four levers of control model to the field of quality management. Based on the experience with three case studies at European automotive manufacturers, this approach seems to have potential.