The strategy formation process in the EFQM Excellence Model: a critical review and new perspectives

The adoption of an integrative strategy formation process becomes a way of developing a strategic capability that contributes to generating positive results and sustainable competitive advantages. In today's environments, many companies are also using the EFQM Excellence Model (EEM) to try to develop such a strategic capability. This paper presents an exhaustive review of the literature on the strategic process debate and on the strategic capability of the EEM. As a result, we offer to practitioners a conceptual framework which shows the EEM as a useful driver to facilitate the development of an integrative strategy formation process, and we propose a set of dimensions and variables (the levers) through which such a development may take place. In addition, we present to academicians a detailed research agenda by establishing some exploratory questions, theoretical implications and new challenges to go into the knowledge of this area in greater depth.