Business excellence models in higher education - innovative solutions for management performance

The present challenging environment determines organizations to differentiate themselves from their competitors finding creative solutions. Business Excellence Models (BEMs) is the appropriate instrument for organizations to create authentic competitive advantages. In dynamic and changing environments characterized by technological changes, a sustainable advantage requires strong dynamic capabilities and integrated elements of BEMs. A comparative analysis of BEMS evolution presented in the paper reflects the challenges and opportunities for further improvement in organizations. Excellence models have been used successfully also in business education. Business education reflects the added value to sound economic development, balancing social and economic interest (Emiliani, 2004). In general, it refers to competitive and motivated academic staff, quality of teaching and learning activities, leadership and management commitment, sustainability of university-business relationship, internationalization strategy and comprehensive curriculum adapted to business environment. There are a lot of environmental forces in different national environments that are placing the excellence dimension on higher education agenda. At the same time, limitations of BEMs models and the nature of higher education institutions put a lot of challenges on leadership and management of these organizations. The objective of the paper is to present and analyse the application of excellence models in higher education institutions and identify creative solutions for management performance.