Practice and implementation of self‐assessment

Self‐assessment based on TQM criteria frameworks has become a widespread management tool. Apart from the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award in the USA, the European Model for Business Excellence has become the most important framework of this kind for Europe. This article first reflects on how self‐assessment basically fits into a total quality management context. It will be shown, that an integration with corporate planning is inevitable to guarantee the success of self‐assessment in the long run. Most emphasis is placed on different approaches to self‐assessment in a combination of case study evidence and literature review. The approaches include the assessment model of the European Foundation for Quality Management, a workshop approach, a pro forma approach and the so‐called peer involvement approach to self‐assessment. The presentation of these approaches is enhanced by the personal experiences of the authors from some 40 self‐assessments they have coached.