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The EFQM Model as an Instrument to Legitimise Organisations

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Achieving Competitive Advantage through Quality Management

Abstract

The number of studies to have shown the importance of legitimacy for organisations is growing. Legitimacy has become a key factor for organisations to survive and grow. Numerous mechanisms exist for acquiring legitimacy. Their implementation involves engaging in actions that conform to what is expected of an institution. This study aims to highlight the effect of management excellence, in compliance with the EFQM model, on the legitimacy of organisations. The principles of excellence, as established by this model, are consistent with what is expected of an institution. The general hypothesis is that organisations with a higher level of excellence show greater legitimacy. To achieve this objective, this study analyses the relationship between the excellence of 23 schools in the region of Madrid and their legitimacy. Results suggest that the EFQM management excellence model is a useful tool and guide to steer the process of institutionalisation and the achievement of legitimacy. Results also suggest implications in the field of institutional theory.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Universidad Rey Juan Carlos and European Academy of Management and Business Economics, Madrid, Spain

    Alicia Blanco-González, Ana Cruz-Suárez & Francisco Díez-Martín

Authors
  1. Alicia Blanco-González
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  2. Ana Cruz-Suárez
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  3. Francisco Díez-Martín
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Correspondence to Alicia Blanco-González .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Business Administration, Universitat Politècnica de València, Departamento de organización de Empresas, Valencia, Spain

    Marta Peris-Ortiz

  2. Departamento de Economia Financiera y Contabilidad, Facultad de Estudios Empresariales y Turismo; Universidad de Extremadura, Cáceres, Spain

    José Álvarez-García

  3. Department of Business Administration, Universitat Politècnica de València, Departamento de organización de Empresas, Valencia, Spain

    Carlos Rueda-Armengot

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Blanco-González, A., Cruz-Suárez, A., Díez-Martín, F. (2015). The EFQM Model as an Instrument to Legitimise Organisations. In: Peris-Ortiz, M., Álvarez-García, J., Rueda-Armengot, C. (eds) Achieving Competitive Advantage through Quality Management. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-17251-4_10

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