People management as indicator of business excellence: The Polish and Danish perspectives

Purpose - This paper aims to show the importance of people management as a key indicator of business excellence based on four research projects, conducted on the samples of Polish (in the years 2004-2005 and 2006-2007) and Danish companies (in 1999 and 2005). Design/methodology/approach - EFQM Excellence Model indicators were used as the evaluation criteria for the studies. The data were next estimated as a structural equation model by partial least squares using SmartPLS software. That estimation was conducted on the model of the Danish Business Excellence Index methodology. Presented data make it possible to compare developing Polish and developed Danish companies in their initiatives aiming at business excellence. Findings - The results indicate significant negligence in the management of human resources as one of the initiatives towards business excellence of Polish enterprises before Poland's accession to the European Union (EU). At the same time, the results from the years 2006-2007 confirm that, after several years of the functioning of the Polish economy in the structures of the EU, the role of the human factor as a key indicator of business activity results has increased, leading to a drop in the distance dividing Polish and Danish enterprises. Originality/value - The paper is a continuation of previous work by the authors, which made it possible to compare developing Polish and developed Danish companies, before Poland joined the EU in 2004. The paper builds on the research and conclusions contained in the previous work of the authors, adding new data coming from Poland, collected in 2006-2007. © Emerald Group Publishing Limited.