The objective of this diploma thesis is to map the opinions of organisations and the public on the value and benefits of the National Quality Award of the Czech Republic based on the realised survey. The results of this survey are used to reason the suggestions to improve the importance of the prize and its perception in the society. Apart from the general quality conception, the theoretical part of the thesis also includes the presentation of the EFQM Excellence Model principle that represents a base for the National Quality Award of the Czech Republic. The particular programmes of this prize are also presented - the ones the organisations may apply for. The practical part contains the analyses and data evaluations from the questionnaires that were answered by organisations as well as the respondents from the public. The practical part also includes the review of the quality prizes awarded abroad.

This thesis deals with the organisational structure of human resources. The aim is to identify the role of HR in companies, explore the transformation process, recognize the main reasons for transformation and uncover the new structure of HR. This thesis places emphasis on the HR Business Partnership model and its three main parts - HR Business Partner, Shared Services Centre and Centre of Excellence. It is based partly on secondary data and partly on structured interviews with chosen companies.

The study addresses: (1) changes in Canada's science-policy climate over the past two decades; (2) impacts o f such changes on the conduct and organization of academic science; and (3) publicinterest implications of promoting, in public institutions, research 'relevant' to private sector needs. Working within the interdisciplinary traditions of science studies, the conceptual framework draws on the cross-cutting tensions at the intersection of public and private space, and basic and applied science. These tensions are articulated in two opposing models: 'open science' and 'overflowing networks'. Canada's Networks of Centres of Excellence (NCE) program provides the study's empirical focus. Founded in 1988, the NCE program rests on dual goals of research excellence and commercial relevance. It promotes a national research capacity that 'floats across' existing provincial institutions. The first part of the study investigates the evolution of the NCE program against the background of Canadian science policy. The second part problematizes the notion of 'network' while investigating one of the NCEs in depth, examining the scientific, commercial, cultural, and spatial-structural practices that are the outcomes of policy. Examination of these practices reveals not only the cultural and commercial shifts sought by policy, but also unintended consequences such as regional clustering; elitism and exclusion; problems with social and fiscal accountability; tensions with host institutions; and goal displacement between science and commerce. / Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies / Graduate

Democratic principles and values in South Africa and technological innovations influence the design of educational programmes provided by higher education institutions. The diagnostic radiography programme at the Medunsa Campus of the University of Limpopo has to align itself with policy requirements and the requirements of the world of work. Against this background this study aims at answering these questions: How has Radiography changed as a science and what demands are placed on practitioners to meet competence requirements in a changing working environment? What impact does the changing role of the radiographer have on the academic department in terms of curriculum development and curriculum management? What strategies should curriculum leadership use to improve the quality of the programme offered in terms of expectations essential to a competitive and changing working and teaching environment? A qualitative study was used where structured personal interviews were conducted with academe and clinical personnel to answer these questions. The responses were coded to facilitate the process of data analysis. The findings of this investigation indicate that changes in the Department of Education and the Department of Health transformation have an impact on the curriculum. The investigation has also revealed that there is lack of collaboration between the academic and the clinical personnel. It also indicates that professional development should be made more relevant in terms of focusing on areas that affect radiographers, for instance clinical personnel need to be aware of principles of primary health care and lifelong learning. In line with the changing nature of leadership, the proactivity of the academe cannot be underestimated as this could help in maintaining quality and excellence in the programme. / Dissertation (M.Ed (Maximising Potential))--University of Pretoria, 2007. / Curriculum Studies / unrestricted

The master´s thesis analyzes the performance of company Řetězárna Ltd. by using the Model START, which is based on the EFQM Excellence Model principle. The first part is devoted to the theoretical description of performance measurement. The second part of the master´s thesis deals with the application of these theoretical findings in practice, in the form of an analysis according to the Model START. In the last part of the master´s thesis, according to the results of the analytical part, are proposed new possible improvements to increase the performance of Řetězárna Ltd.

The master’s thesis is focused on evaluation of the performance of the company Deceuninck, spol. s r. o. by using the START Model, which is based on the logic of the EFQM Excellence Model. The first part of the thesis contains theoretical bases related to performance and methods of its measurement. The second part is focused on the description of the selected company and evaluation of the results of the questionnaire survey. The final part of this work contains measures which were suggested to improve the current situation.

Master´s thesis is focused on valuation of efficiency of NEPA Ltd. This valuation of efficiency is performed on EFQM Excellence Model. Theoretical part of thesis is focused on description of selected models of valuation of efficiency with a bigger orientation to EFQM Excellence Model. In practical part is NEPA Ltd. introduced, included it´s field of business and on the base of EFQM Excellence Model is valuation of efficiency made. In conclusion are series of recommendations for increase efficiency.

Continuous improvement of processes is one important aspect of quality management and the way towards excellence. Companies are at different stages of business excellence, but the way is long, and the improvement process is never ending. For a company to start its journey towards business excellence, there are many means, guidelines and models to use but no single way that guarantees the success and no generic mean that can be extended to all types of companies. That’s why this paper tries to initiate process improvement journey at Golvet Göteborg by applying excellence models for process optimization and making a process map of warehousing to recognize improvement areas and act upon that. To do this, a literature review in areas of quality management and business excellence is conducted with focus on process management. By interviewing key persons at the company, a map of warehouse process is illustrated and based on that possible improvements are suggested to leadership.

This research offers an essential enlightenment for a better understanding towards the significance to establish the Center of Excellence for Technical Vocational Education and Training (CoE for TVET), especially in vocational education. It analyzes and synthesizes the data from the existing academic and commercial sources based on the fact that, in most cases, “excellence” is referred to as a foundation term for competitions. Many entities being recognized as or perceived by target audiences in business conduct as “excellent”, are generally “abstract”. In practice, there are only a few entities actually worthy of a true “excellence” judging by appropriate criteria—having “concrete” evidence of activities and components. Exemplifying an existing Center of Excellence would promote a better understanding both in terms of definition and its characteristics. The researcher focuses on conducting comparative research that combines with qualitative and case studies, with an important goal of acquiring 'new definition, new knowledge and specialized practical guidelines related to the CoE for TVET', and to invent a set of practices that will lead to answering of these key questions: • What is 'CoE for TVET'? How many types are they of ? • How is it currently recognized for the 'CoE in TVET' ? • What approaches should be taken to promote a better understanding of definitions, classification, and operations of “a COE in TVET?” This is to provide in-depth research that can be beneficial to the public and visualized clearly worldwide. As per the mentioned aims, comparative case studies between different countries are required. There are neither much studies in the world which clearly proposed the definition; the identification and the demonstration of the applied practical guidelines nor in the dimension of excellence of TVET education management because all that exists are the context of excellence in business and nor in education sector that are often referred particularly to the level of Higher Education and that the basic education cannot be applied to TVET because of its being of different context. In each topic, the researcher clarified points of information including the perception, access, and maintenance of excellence. There shall be further discussion on the classification of all globally existing centers of excellence which is based on perception, presentation, and public understanding in conclusion. Once the foregoing section has been thoroughly accomplished, the next step is accessing the process and techniques of pursuing elements and characteristics that CoE in TVET at least should have by relying on techniques and principles called “Benchmarking+USP” that the researcher has developed recently based on the understanding that 'Apart from being superior to general standard and quality, that is, - no ordinary - ; having a status of excellence, the center of excellence, no matter operating or providing services in any regards, must have a unique identity and distinctiveness that should be as close as possible to -the top-notch – in that particular area.' To be an example case, the researcher had selected the 'Benching Partner' which is recognized for achieving excellence in service providing and educational management in the field of TVET: GTDEE and TGPES, as the answer of the research items that say: • How will there be techniques or processes in the pursuit of components, attributes that indicate the status of excellence of TVET CoE? • Are there any examples of centers of excellence or comparable organizations existing in Thailand? And how do those organizations have the required elements and characteristics of excellence? The final essence, therefore, is studying and striving for the needs in various dimensions regarding the establishment of the Center of excellence in TVET that is able to response to the demands of society for teaching and learning management of the Thai vocational education sector in the points of view of the sample groups --the direct stakeholders--, thus leading to answering the question in the endmost part of the research, that is: In what dimension does Thailand need TVET Center of Excellence? These will be beneficial suggestion to the relevant sectors in Thailand or those wishing to learn, study extensively on the basis of substantial findings delivered by this research.:Tabel of contents Abstract ii Acknowledgements iv Dedication vi Table of contents vii List of Figures xi List of Tables xii List of Abbreviations xiii Chapter 1: Introduction 1 1.1 Background and Importance 1 1.2 Definition of Excellence 1 1.3 Thailand's vocational education policies in the direction of excellence development 6 1.4 Research Question 11 1.5 Hypotheses 12 1.6 Purpose of research 13 1.7 Method and Scope of the Research 14 Chapter 2: Quality - Matters behind the scenes of excellence for vocational education 16 2.1 Definition and dimension of quality in the VET sector 16 2.2 “Quality” an impact factor of excellence in VET 19 2.3 Quality approaches: Strategies to improve excellence status 23 2.3.1 The Juran Quality Trilogy: Basic architect of Quality Management 24 2.3.2 Approaches to quality and quality objectives 25 Chapter 3: Centre of Vocational Excellence (CoVE) 32 3.1 How to understand the characteristics and definition of “CoVE” ? 32 3.2 Classic Excellence Approaches 36 3.3 Modern Excellence Approach and Education: EFQM – MBNQ 39 3.4 SEM &TVET Excellence Journey: The Singapore Experience 41 3.4.1 EFQM- MBNQA: The Foundation of the School Excellence Model 41 3.4.2 TVET Excellence Journey 43 Chapter 4: Conceptual Innovation: The Basic Approach to Establishing TVET-CoE Using Benchmarking+UPS 49 4.1 Level Analysis - Policy Examining: First Things to be Aware and Considered 50 4.2 Benchmarking: Learn from other sources, seek Best Practices, and adapt for excellence 53 4.2.1 Popularity and Definition 53 4.2.2 Type and scope 56 4.2.3 The benchmarking process: The Xerox way 57 4.3 Innovative concept: Establising TVET CoE based on excellence using Benchmarking+USP 61 4.3.1 Benchmarking and Vocational Development 61 4.3.2 Input, process and output/outcome: Benchmarking indicators 62 4.3.3 Outputs, outcomes and impacts: “The results chain in modern system” 64 4.3.4 Combining UPS and Benchmarking for TVET CoE under Blue Ocean 67 Chapter 5: Comparative case studies via adaptation of benchmarking technique to identify excellence based on scientific approach 70 5.1 Introduction: Principles of Case Studies Consideration 70 5.2 Analysis: Dual system, a new issue in Thailand - Why GTDEE? 72 5.2.1 Agricultural era and the advent of “Dual system” 72 5.2.2 Factory in school: Utilizing as a makeshift until deep-rooted and falling off from the ideal 74 5.2.3 Subsequent problems of practice that falls off the frame 75 5.2.4 What GTDEE show? - Pull the consciousness of the Thai vocational to look at the original “Dual system” 77 5.3 The application of Benchmarking+USP techniques to pursue unique excellence between GTDEE and TGPES 81 5.3.1 Scope and Basic norms of conducting the study 81 5.3.2 Enter the process of Benchmarking+USP 82 Chapter 6: Benchmarking+USP results conducted through information and views from executives of Benching Partner 91 6.1 Preliminary data and comments of Benching Partner about “TVET Excellence” 91 6.1.1 Personal information of the representatives of Benching Partner 91 6.1.2 Basic understanding of Excellence and Centres of Excellence 92 6.1.3 Awareness, experience, perspective and understanding of CoE for TVET 93 6.1.4 Suggestions and others 95 6.2 Results of exercising Benchmarking+USP based on the designed templates 96 6.3 SWOT analysis: a summary of the results of Benchmarking+USP to pursue excellence 105 6.3.1 Strengths 105 6.3.2 Opportunities 107 6.3.3 Weaknesses 108 6.3.4 Threats 109 Chapter 7: Understanding and demands for the CoE for TVET in Thailand: A case study from a sample group of 102 stakeholders 113 7.1 Introduction 113 7.2 The statistics used in the research and testing of the hypothesis 115 7.3 Personal information and basic information 116 7.4 Basic understanding of Excellence and Centres of Excellence 119 7.5 Awareness, experience, perspective and understanding of CoE for TVET 127 7.6 Suggestions and others 132 Chapter 8: Summary of body of knowledge and Suggestions 137 8.1 Understanding Excellence, CoE and CoE in TVET 137 8.1.1 Definition of excellence and CoE 137 8.1.2 SEM &TVET Excellence Journey: The Singapore Experience 139 8.2 Classification of definition by type and characteristics of “CoE for TVET” 140 8.3 Utilization Techniques and Guidelines for Benchmarking+USP within BOS in Identifying Distinct Excellence for CoEs in TVET 142 8.4 Examples of characteristics of excellence of the TVET CoE in Thailand 145 8.5.1 Factors making contribution to enhance journey toward organizational excellence 146 8.5.2 Perspectives on the mission of CoF for TVET 147 8.5.3 Demand for CoE of TVET in Thailand based-on the opinions of the sample groups 148 References 150 Internet sources 158 Appendix I: Benchmarking+USP templates 159 Appendix II: Questionnaire 176

VAŠÍČKOVÁ, A. Performance evaluation of the selected business entity. Diploma thesis. Brno: Mendel University, 2018. The aim of the diploma thesis is to evaluate the current state and performance development of the selected company with a proposal for a recommendation to improve it. The company's situation is assessed by both financial and non-financial measures. The diploma thesis is divided into two main parts. The theoretical basis of the solution defines performance, financial analysis and its basic financial indicators. Then the Balanced Scorecard and EFQM Excellence Model are presented here. The second part, called Self-solving problems, proposing recommendations and concrete proposals, contains the application of the above mentioned methods. The results obtained are then compared with the recommended values, the industry and the largest competitor. Based on these results, proposals are made to increase the performance of the analyzed enterprise.