Simply stated, performance excellence could be defined as a pathway.  It is not a destination, but rather a journey.   Performance excellence consists of a foundation, three competencies and a journey.  The foundation consists of core values, concepts, internal and external factors that an organization works within, and a maturity model that paves the developmental path to performance excellence.

The first of the competencies is strategic leadership, which leads an organization.  The second of the competencies is execution excellence, which manages the organization, and the third competency is organizational learning, which improves the organization.   Organizations cannot achieve and sustain excellence until competency in all three is accomplished.   

This is the journey.

Organizational transformation is defined as learning and improving your organization, continuously.  This is also known as continuous improvement.   The Performance Excellence framework consists of the following five categories:

• Focus
• Strategic Leadership
• Execution Excellence
• Organizational Learning
• The Journey

Focus:  This category sets the context for the way an organization operates.  The environment, key relationships, and strategic challenges serve as a guide for an organizational performance management system.   In short, it is a snapshot of your organization from 30,000 feet.

Strategic Leadership:  This category consists of leadership, strategic planning and customer and market knowledge.  These three areas set direction for your organization and establish priorities.

Execution Excellence:  This category is composed of process management, workforce management, and customer relationships and satisfaction.  The items in this category are often referred to as the enablers, because developing the capacity of people and processes is key to accomplishing an overall business strategy.

Organizational Learning:  This category consists of information and analysis, and results.  While all of the items in all of the categories point toward business results, these items are most useful for validating the improvements and the support process by providing insight into what works for an organization and what doesn't.  

The Journey...an ever changing pathway to the ultimate destination...
Performance Excellence!