DA EXCELÊNCIA INTERNA AO RECONHECIMENTO EXTERNO: COMO EMPRESAS ESTÃO GANHANDO PRÊMIOS AO VALORIZAR PESSOAS E PROCESSOS

This study analyzes the relationship between internal excellence and external recognition in the corporate context, investigating how valuing people and process excellence contribute to achieving relevant awards and certifications. The general objective was to identify critical success factors that enable the sustainable maintenance of such recognitions over time. The research is applied in nature, with a mixed approach, exploratory and descriptive objectives, and bibliographic and documentary procedures. Ten companies operating in Brazil that, between 2018 and 2024, received national and international organizational excellence awards were analyzed. Data collection involved indexed academic sources and official documents from award-promoting entities, with data treatment performed through content analysis and descriptive statistics. The results highlighted four critical success factors: committed leadership, integration between people management and processes, continuous measurement based on data, and a culture of innovation. The correlation between internal practices and evaluation criteria showed that companies aligning their indicators and methodologies with frameworks such as MEG-PNQ, EFQM, and MBNQA achieve better performance and greater recurrence in awards. It is concluded that external recognition results from consistent, integrated, and sustained strategies, rather than isolated actions. The social contribution of this research lies in encouraging corporate practices that promote human development, competitiveness, and social responsibility.