CAF Training Event: The Common Assessment Framework in Action

The Common Assessment Framework (CAF) is a total quality management (TQM) tool specifically designed for the development of TQM in public-sector organisations starting with a self-assessment of their organisational performance. Since the launch of the first version in 2000 and the revised version in 2002, more than 1000 organisations in many European countries have implemented the CAF. Many lessons have been learned and have led to the third revised version, the CAF 2006. This CAF training will be based on the CAF 2006 version. The training will provide a more in-depth analysis of different aspects such as:

• how to adapt the self-assessment process to your own organisation(s);
• the development of action and improvement plans;
• outlines of CAF training schemes;
• efficient use of e-tools for the CAF;
• the role of the CAF Resource Centre (RC) at EIPA.

Objective of the seminar:
At the end of the seminar, the participants should have a clear understanding of:

• the CAF 2006 quality model itself and the self-assessment process;
• how to set up training at national, regional or organisational level;
• launching improvement actions on a short, medium and long-term basis;
• the benefits of e-tools, databases and bench learning; and
• the support they can get from EIPA’s CAF Resource Centre.

They should be better prepared to implement the CAF in their countries and their organisations or be able to assist other organisations in the implementation of the CAF.

Profile of the participants:
The seminar is intended for trainers as well as quality and change managers involved in introducing quality management techniques in the public sector (ministries, agencies, regional and local administrations, education, police, health care, etc.).
The participants of the seminar should be roughly familiar with the Common Assessment Framework and its main objectives; it is not the purpose of the seminar to introduce them to the basics of the CAF model. Participants should be persons involved in facilitating and promoting the use of the CAF in public-sector associations/organisations in their country, or be involved in training activities and change management activities for the public sector in their country, e.g. in agencies or ministries.

The methodology used will be a mixture of presentations, specific case studies, experiences and interactive discussions in a combination of workshops and plenary sessions.