The sample consisted of 225 Spanish companies subjected to
self-assessment and external assessment on the basis of the EFQM
Model. According to data contributed by the Centres of Excellence
(an association that unites the efforts of excellence-promoting
centres throughout Spain), the total number of organisations subjected
to complete assessments during the period 2003e2014 was
531. Therefore, there was a 42% response rate. Considering size as a
categorical variable, the sample was split into two groups