Definition: "Excellent organisations manage, develop and release the full potential of their people at an individual, team based, and organisational level. They promote fairness and equality and involve and empower their people. They care for, communicate, reward and recognise, in a way that motivates staff and builds commitment to using their skills and knowledge for the benefit of the organisation".

Copyright EFQM 1999. The EFQM Model is a Registered Trademark.

There are FIVE sub criterion parts (3a to 3e), associated with the People criterion.

Examples of Sub Criterion Parts:

3a. People resources are planned managed and improved
3c. People are involved and empowered

As before, the guidance points can be used to expand upon the criterion part statement. For example, under Criterion part 3a might be a question pertaining to the development of HR policy or the use of staff feedback. Criterion 3c may highlight issues to do with encouraging team participation among staff.

Here there is a notional linkage with the Investors in People standard (IIP), which has been used for some time by many organisations and specifically covers people issues.

It has to be recognised that there is a lot of truth in the old saying "people are an organisation's greatest asset", as any business simply cannot function with out its people. Generally, if an organisation's people are well treated and rewarded they will perform and provide the necessary returns that will promote business improvement. There are many good examples of this among UK Excellence Award winners, and many others.