Four Key Pillars at the Start of the Excellence Journey
Organizations focus on four key pillars at the beginning of their journey toward excellence. The first is understanding the scope of organizational excellence, the second is understanding institutional assessment methods, the third is identifying the current performance level, and the fourth is knowing activation and implementation methods.Understanding the scope of excellence helps us identify the areas in which high-performing organizations have excelled. Similarly, understanding assessment methods enriches our knowledge and skills in measuring institutional performance and determining how to close gaps and progress along the ladder of excellence.Knowing the current performance level provides us with detailed information about our present excellence status, our strengths, and our opportunities for improvement. Likewise, understanding activation and implementation methods equips us with the technical and administrative skill framework for the entire process.A lack of understanding of the scope of excellence causes organizations to go in circles. Similarly, a lack of understanding of assessment methods limits our ability to develop institutionally in a systematic way. Failing to determine the current performance level correctly deprives us of a roadmap for progress and growth. A lack of knowledge about activation and implementation methods exposes our work to randomness and error—and sometimes to implementing the right actions in the wrong way.