KAQA … a Reference Framework for Assessing the Performance of Establishments in all Sectors
Dr. Al-Kasabi: The Fourth Round Will Give the Chance to all Sectors to Apply for the Award
Quality & Excellence Best Practice Forum Reviews 11 International Experiences and 5 National Ones
Soon… Launch of a Number of Development and Qualification Programs for Establishments and Individuals to Apply the Excellence Model
HE KAQA Secretary General, Dr. Saad Bin Othman Al-Kasabi, expressed his deep gratitude to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz, may Allah protect him, for patronizing the honoring ceremony of establishments winning KAQA in its third round, and the Quality & Excellence Best Practice Forum.
HE expressed that KAQA is the only national excellence award in the Kingdom, and that it surpasses in its standards other counterparts around the world. The Award's vision is to be distinctive and leading at regional, national and international levels. Also, it aims to achieve its goals to improve the quality level in service and production areas in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
General Reference Framework
Dr. Al-Kasabi expressed his hope that the Award contributes to promoting competition by offering a general reference framework to assess the performance of establishments in all public and private sectors, develop them in accordance with national standards of excellence, and highlight their role in spreading concepts of Quality and institutional excellence.
Spreading the Culture of Quality and Institutional Excellence
Dr. Sa'ad noted that the objectives of the Award include raising awareness, spreading the culture of quality and institutional excellence and its applications in the society and among the various sectors of the Kingdom, in addition to motivating sectors to adopt concepts of quality and institutional excellence through the application of the national model of excellence and adoption of its standards. The objectives also include promoting concepts and applications of performance measurement, continuous improvement of business in pursuit of satisfying beneficiaries, and working and raising the level of administrative leaderships in the establishments. Dr. Sa'ad urged establishments to comply with national and international standards, provide an ideal platform to exchange best practices and reference comparisons between national establishments, and transfer successful experiences between various business sectors. He also urged them to increase the effectiveness of participation of establishments in building the society and promoting sustainability in all fields, as well as honor and encourage distinctive winning establishments and set them as role models in the community, which in return reflects positively on national establishments and creates a positive atmosphere to compete for excellence.
9 Winning Establishments in the Third Round
KAQA Secretary General mentioned that (9) establishments have won in the third round, out of (50) establishments that applied online, through the Award's website, with an increase of more than 90% compared to the second round.
Innovative Model of Excellence
Dr. Al-Kasabi clarified that the Award launched its new model in 1436 AH – 2015, to serve as a reference for the application of quality and institutional excellence in the Kingdom. During the process of design and setting its main and sub standards, many key elements were taken into consideration, to make it a unified national model for quality and institutional excellence for all the Kingdom's sectors. The Award's excellence model is based on three main points; the principles of quality and institutional excellence, standards, and institutional assessment tool, proceeding from the idea that excellence is the result of organized and sustained efforts to achieve and exceed the expectations of all interested people. The model also reflects the adoption of a set of intellectual main principles to motivate administrative leaderships to take right decisions and contribute to the long-term sustainable overall success.
Review of 16 experiences in Best Practice Forum
Dr. Al-Kasabi noted that the General Secretariat of KAQA holds the Quality & Excellence Best Practice Forum, on the sidelines of the honoring ceremony of winning establishments of the Award in its third round. The Forum sheds light on over 16 experiences in the field of quality and institutional excellence, 5 national experiences and 11 international ones from 9 countries. In addition, there are 3 panel discussions to discuss the impact of national quality awards on national economy, institutional performance and societies in general. The first day of the Forum includes a keynote speech about the Malcom Baldrige Quality Award in the U.S. It also sheds light on the Charleston Area Medical Center, Health System Malcom Baldrige Award Winner and the Dubai Electricity & Water Authority, Dubai Government Excellence Program Winner.
International Experiences
Furthermore, the first day reviews the experience of Wakefield and district Housing company, which is UK EFQM winner, several national experiences in the field of petrochemicals "Jubail Petrochemical Co. KEMYA", "Saudi Investment Bank" for the service sector, in addition to Tarbya Namouthajiyah Schools- Riyadh, for the private educational complexes. Moreover, there is a panel discussion with CEOs of International & Arab Awards, to discuss the impact of these awards on institutional performance and society in general. The next day of the Forum resumes with a keynote speech about the Australian Excellence Award. It also presents the experience of one of the winners of the Australian Excellence Award and the winner of Sheikh Khalifa Excellence Award, UAE. Furthermore, it reviews the experiences of other companies winning Quality Awards; the Chinese Quality Award, the Japanese Quality Award and King Abdullah ll Center for Excellence. In addition, it will present several national experiences for "Effat University" for private high education sector, and "Hammadi Hospital, Swaidi branch" for the health sector. The Forum will also witness a keynote speech about the Japanese Quality Award, and will conclude its events with a panel discussion with CEOs of KAQA winners in its third round.
The Fourth Round
HE KAQA Secretary General assured that the fourth session will open the filed for all sectors in the Kingdom to apply for the Award. Furthermore, he confirmed that the upcoming period will witness the launch of many development and qualification programs for both establishments and individuals, in order to provide them with knowledge and skills required to apply the Award's excellence model.