Business Excellence, Vol. 4 No. 2, 2010.
Original scientific paper
RESEARCH RESULT ANALYSIS OF BUSINESS EXCELLENCE LEVEL IN CROATIA
Goran Marijanović
; Faculty of Economics Osijek, Osijek, Croatia
Jasminka Samardžija
; The first school of economics Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Saša Karlovčan
; Proago d.o.o.
Abstract
Business excellence is based on a system of TQM - Total Quality Management.
Th e introduction and certifi cation of the ISO 9001:2000 series of standards for the system
of quality management presents a good starting point for implementation of the EFQM
business excellence model and also represents the fi rst step on the road to business excellence,
because it introduces a powerful process approach for management. Th e purpose of
this article is to present results and conclusions of the research level of business excellence
in the Republic of Croatia and to make proposals of its potential improvement viewed
through the prism of presentation and explanations of fundamental principles and criteria
of the EFQM business excellence model. Th e starting point of the research were 1444 manufacturing
companies registered with Croatian exporters that have emerged within the
HIO project (Croatian export off ensive). Th e main issue is to point out the possibility of
strengthening export competitiveness of Croatian companies in order to enhance healthy
competition and encourage TQM in the national framework. Th is article is based on three
hypothesis. Th e fi rst hypothesis H1 is that Croatian companies are not familiar with the
EFQM business excellence model, nor its potential positive eff ects and therefore they apply
it selectively; H2 Companies that are certifi ed by ISO 9001:2000 standard have more
knowledge of the EFQM model of business excellence, are both fully established, while the
H3 as it was anticipated, proved a positive correlation between ISO 9001:2000 standard
certifi cation and potential defi cit reduction of Foreign trade balance.
Keywords
Business Excellence in the Republic of Croatia; ISO 9001:2000; EFQM Excellence Model®; competitiveness
Hrčak ID:
60696
URI
Publication date:
10.10.2010.
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