Lessons from the Global OE Index
- Nina Keyrouz
- Jun 19
- 3 min read
Updated: 4 days ago
When I hosted Dawn Ringrose on the Excellence Foresight Podcast, the conversation quickly became a masterclass in organizational excellence. Dawn, Principal of Organizational Excellence Specialists Canada, has contributed immensely to the field with her development of the Organizational Excellence Framework and the Global Index. In our discussion, we explored how organizations around the world are measuring up to excellence frameworks—and what that means for the future of global performance and sustainability.
A Framework for Real-World Excellence
Dawn is the driving force behind the Organizational Excellence Framework and the Global Index for Organizational Excellence, the first comprehensive, global study of its kind launched in 2015. Unlike traditional studies that focus only on award-winning or excellence-committed organizations, this inclusive initiative collects data from a broad spectrum: organizations new to excellence models and those deeply embedded in them. This holistic lens offers a more realistic and actionable view of organizational performance across regions, sectors, and maturity levels.
The framework itself consolidates the best practices from world-class excellence models and supplements them with something previously missing: practical implementation guidance. Backed by decades of hands-on experience and designed with accessibility in mind, the framework includes a turnkey toolkit featuring an automated assessment and reporting system to help organizations of any size begin their excellence journey.
The Global State of Excellence
What does the data show? Insights from over 4,000 global respondents reveal that most organizations rate themselves in the "good start" category on key management areas. Interestingly, they tend to score higher on cultural principles that signal commitment to excellence. This suggests that while the desire and mindset for excellence are present, systematic implementation still lags behind.
One of the most thought-provoking takeaways from our discussion was the regional variation in excellence adoption. Dawn shared that while regions like the Middle East and parts of Africa show growing enthusiasm and maturity in excellence practices, North America is at risk of losing ground, distracted by short-term gains and "the latest flavor of the week." This poses a challenge for long-term competitiveness.
A Three-Step Path to Excellence
Dawn recommends a straightforward path for organizations looking to pursue excellence:
Assess your current performance using a validated excellence model.
Benchmark against others globally through the Global Index.
Learn from role models that have demonstrated excellence in action.
These steps empower organizations to gain clarity, set meaningful goals, and adopt proven practices without starting from scratch.
Beyond Models: A Holistic Platform
Another important insight Dawn shared is that excellence frameworks aren’t a replacement for other methodologies like ISO, Lean, or Six Sigma. Instead, they offer a unifying platform that harmonizes these tools under a common purpose. This integrative view eliminates the false choice between frameworks and empowers organizations to build enduring systems.
The Role of Leadership
At the heart of excellence lies leadership. Much like elite athletes dedicate time to mastery, organizations that succeed at excellence have leaders who are committed, consistent, and courageous. Without leadership driving and modeling the way, excellence initiatives are unlikely to take root.
From Insight to Action
The Global Index is more than just a benchmarking tool – it’s a strategic roadmap. It helps organizations not only identify their current position but also chart a course toward a culture of continuous improvement, resilience, and sustainable performance. For those ready to improve, this episode offers insights that are both inspirational and immediately actionable.
🎧 Want to hear the full conversation?
Tune in to the complete podcast episode here:
Nancy Nouaimeh
Culture Transformation and Organizational Excellence Expert
Shingo Alumni
Shingo Certified Facilitator
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