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operational-excellence

/ˌɒp.əˈreɪ.ʃən.əl ˈek.səl.əns/
IELTSAcademic
noun

Operational excellence is the ability to run a business, team, or system very well and with few mistakes. It means work is efficient, reliable, and well controlled.

  • The company focused on operational excellence.
  • Operational excellence improved delivery times.
  • Good training supports operational excellence.

Adinary Nuance

Operational excellence is broader than efficiency. Efficiency means doing tasks with less time, money, or effort. Operational excellence also includes quality, consistency, process control, and steady results. In business writing, it sounds more strategic than practical.

In other languages

Vietnamese
xuất sắc vận hành
Spanish
excelencia operativa
Chinese
卓越运营
Japanese
業務卓越
Korean
운영 우수성

Etymology

This phrase combines operational, from late Latin operatio, and excellence, from Latin excellere, meaning 'to rise above.' It became common in business and management writing in the late 20th century.

Common phrases

drive operational excellenceoperational excellence strategya culture of operational excellenceoperational excellence programme

Synonyms

Related words

Frequently asked questions

Is operational excellence a common business phrase?
Yes. It is common in management, consulting, and corporate writing.
Is it the same as efficiency?
No. Efficiency is part of it, but operational excellence also includes quality and consistency.
Can I use operational excellence in IELTS writing?
Yes, if you are discussing business, management, or systems improvement.
Is operational excellence formal?
Yes. It is mainly used in formal or professional contexts.