Excellence²

‘Excellence is the state in which a company's performance is unrivalled within its industry through the successful integration of various operational and strategic elements.’ (Onpulson Wirtschaftslexikon)

‘Truly excellent organisations are those that strive to satisfy their stakeholders by what they achieve, how they achieve it and what they are likely to achieve.’ (Roger et al., 2002, p. 3)

Strategic & operational Excellence levels

The Onpulson business lexicon defines the following key elements:

• Total- Quality management

• Quality-Awards & quality standards

• Core competencies

• Benchmarking

• Customer service

• Balanced Scorecard

• Leadership

Source: Onpulson Wirtschaftslexikon Read more

Excellence key factors in intercultural companies

This is what ChatGPT says::

• Cultural intelligence: Ability to understand & adapt to different cultural contexts

• Effective communication: Clear & consistent communication between different cultures

• Relationship building: Fostering trust & cooperation

• Change management: Leading initiatives for cultural dialogue & exchange

• Ethic: Compliance with important ethical standards

• Continuous learning: Continuous learning in relation to global trends & cultural developments

Cristiano Ronaldo is one of the most famous athletes in the world and has an impressive career with numerous achievements:

• 5-time FIFA World Player of the Year, 3-time European Player of the Year

• Record holder in the Champions League: 183 appearances, 140 goals, 42 assists

• The only player to win championships and top scorer titles in England, Spain, and Italy

• 4-time "Golden Shoe" as Europe's top scorer

• 2020 selection to the "Ballon d'Or Dream Team"

• 639 million followers on Instagram

Ronaldo comes from humble beginnings—his mother was a cook, and his father, who struggled with alcoholism and passed away at the age of 51, worked as a municipal gardener.

Steffi Graf, who trained as a child with Boris Becker, significantly surpassed his tennis achievements. She is considered one of the greatest female players in tennis history.

• 900 singles victories (1987–1999)

• 22 Grand Slam titles (just 1 fewer than Serena Williams)

• Record of 377 weeks as world number one, including 186 consecutive weeks

• Unique achievement: In 1988, at the age of 19, she won the "Golden Slam" – all four Grand Slam tournaments and the Olympic gold medal.

Her father, Peter Graf, known for being an ambitious, obsessive, and volatile tennis father, specifically shaped her into a superstar. He withdrew Steffi from school when she was just 13.

Michael Jackson, the "King of Pop," revolutionized the pop genre over decades and used his music to address social and political issues ("We Are the World," "Heal the World"). Milestones in his career include:

• "Thriller": The best-selling album of all time and the most successful music video

• 13 Grammy Awards

• Over 175 million physical sales

• Guinness World Record: "Most Successful Entertainer of All Time"

• World-renowned dance move "Moonwalk"

In addition to his successes, Jackson's childhood was marked by challenges. At just 5 years old, he became a member of the "Jackson 5," strictly managed by his father, who emotionally and physically abused him. The early fame deprived him of a normal childhood and led to loneliness and isolation.

Madonna is one of the most successful artists in music and pop culture:

• According to the Guinness World Records, she is the best-selling female artist of all time (over 300 million records sold)

• LGBTQ+ icon: Early advocate for tolerance and visibility for the LGBTQ+ movement

• 7 Grammy Awards and induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

• Cultural icon: Strong influence in the areas of fashion, feminism, and mainstream attitudes toward sexuality

At the age of 5, she lost her mother, which led to a complicated relationship with her father and stepmother. She broke taboos, provoked religious symbols, and faced criticism and boycotts from religious groups for it.

Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519) is regarded as one of the greatest polymaths and geniuses in history, masterfully uniting art and science.

• Most famous works: "Mona Lisa," "The Last Supper," "Vitruvian Man"

• Influential studies in anatomy and medicine

• Visionary designs for machines such as helicopters, parachutes, and war machines (precursors to modern technologies)

• Contributions to architecture, hydraulics, optics, geology, botany, and aerodynamics

Da Vinci grew up as the illegitimate son of a notary and a peasant woman, without formal education. He acquired his knowledge autodidactically and achieved success as an artist, scientist, engineer, and philosopher through his own efforts. Many of his ideas were only recognized after his death, and his pursuit of perfection led him to leave some projects unfinished.

Frida Kahlo (1907-1954) is considered one of the most important female artists of the 20th century:

• Unique painting style that blends surrealism, realism, and Mexican folk art

• Exploration of themes such as pain, identity, gender, and culture

• Most famous work: "The Two Fridas" (1939)

• A symbol of feminism and female strength

• Despite initially being known as the "wife of Diego Rivera," she gained international recognition

• Became an icon of modern pop culture after her death

Her life was marked by severe health and personal challenges. A polio infection and a serious accident led to lifelong pain and impaired her ability to have children. Additionally, she lived in a patriarchal society but challenged conventions and fought for social justice.