This book has been recognised with a 2019 Shingo Publication Award. In it Peter and Chris show the results of 5 years of research in 100 companies worldwide. They found 40 that have shown themselves to have, in their different ways, the Essence of Excellence. So, what separates the really good from the merely good? The answer lies not in what you see or the tools people use, but in the feel, the pure essence of these organisations. It is the mind-set, the language, the confidence and the sheer passion for excellence. This book explores what has been learned from them, it develops a framework for thinking and illustrates this with examples, cases and anecdotes from those that have captured the Essence of Excellence. We hope to inspire and guide you in your own search for excellence...or maybe your journey to win a Shingo Prize.