When using the Excellence Framework Europe (EFE), you will encounter a lot of information and a specific vocabulary. On this page, we briefly explain the most important terms. If you would like us to explain other terms, please contact us.
C
CSRD (Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive)
Directive on sustainability reporting in organizations
E
Excellence Framework Europe (EFE)
Model-open framework for designing and evaluating excellence with the three building blocks EFE principles, EFE hexagon and EFE maturity model
Ecosystem
See context of the organization
ESRS (European Sustainability Reporting Standards)
Standards for the details of sustainability reporting by organizations in the EU
I
Interested party (synonyms: stakeholder)
Interested parties are people, groups or organizations that have a direct or indirect interest in the organization, its activities and its performance because they can either influence the organization or be influenced by it.
Internal stakeholders include: employees and their representatives, shareholders and bodies such as the supervisory board, as well as, depending on the definition, partners who are very close to the organization.
External stakeholders include customers, partners and suppliers, society, regulators (authorities), media and interest groups as well as (local) politics and the socio-economic environment.
K
Competence
The ability to apply knowledge and skills to achieve intended results. The demonstrated, formal competence is sometimes referred to as qualification (ISO 9000:2015)
Context of the organization (synonyms: environment, ecosystem)
The context includes the combination of social, cultural and interpersonal circumstances, the environment in which the organization is embedded and operates. The context has an impact on the organization in terms of orientation, strategy, value creation and impact. Note on the term: In English, terms such as “business environment”, “organizational environment” “ecosystem of an organization” are often used for this term.
Culture (synonym: organizational culture)
Culture encompasses the shared values, norms, beliefs and behaviors that shape social interaction and collaboration within an organization. It determines how members of an organization interact, make decisions, and respond to internal and external challenges. Organizational culture evolves over time through shared experiences and traditions within a company.
E
Eco-design Regulation (EU) 2024/1781
Regulation establishing a framework for setting ecodesign requirements for sustainable products (July 2024)
U
USP
Unique Selling Proposition