Common Assessment Framework
The Common Assessment Framework (CAF) is a Total Quality Management (TQM) tool inspired by the EFQM Excellence Model and the model of the German University of Administrative Sciences in Speyer.
It is based on the idea that excellent results in organisational performance, people, citizens/customers and society are achieved through the leadership of an organisation driving strategy and planning, people, partnerships and resources and processes. It looks at the organisation from different aspects at the same time and produces a holistic approach to organisational performance analysis.
The CAF is a result of co-operation among the EU Ministers responsible for Public administration and is aimed at the European public sector. It was jointly developed under the aegis of the Innovative Public Services Group (IPSG), a working group of national experts set up to promote exchanges and cooperation where it concerned innovative ways of modernising government and public service delivery in EU Member States.
A pilot version was developed in 2000 and the first revised version launched in 2002.
A CAF Resource Centre was created at the European Institute of Public Administration (EIPA) in Maastricht. It is believed that between 2000 and 2005 nearly 900 European public administrations used CAF to improve their organisations.
The CAF is promoted as an easy to use tool for public sector organisations across Europe to use quality management techniques to improve their performance. CAF provides a self-assessment framework that is very similar to all other major TQM models and in particular EFQM Excellence Model on which it is based. Its aim is to take account of some of the differences in public sector organisations.
CAF has four main purposes:
- 1. To introduce public administrations to the principles of TQM and help them to use self-assessment. Like the EFQM Excellence Model CAF is based on the “Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA)” cycle created by Deming in Japan and aims to move these public bodies from simply undertaking the planning and doing parts of the cycle.
- 2. To assist in self-assessment of public sector organisations in order to develop improvement actions;
- 3. To act as a link or bridge between the various models used in quality management;
- 4. To provide a method of sharing good practice across the European public sector.
The structure of CAF with 9 criteria, 28 sub criteria and detailed examples; along with a method of assessment based on Plan-Do-Check-Act is similar to the EFQM Excellence Model.
Organisations wishing to use CAF should be aware that many progress to a full use of the EFQM Excellence Model on which CAF is based after a short period of time. CAF has its uses to get more public sector organisations thinking about improvement and quality systems.
CAF was designed for use in all parts of the public sector, both at regional and local level. It can also be used under a wide variety of circumstances e.g. as part of a systematic programme of reform or as a basis for targeting improvement efforts in specific public service organisations. In very large organisations it may be more appropriate to undertake a self-assessment in just a part of an organisation e.g. in a selected section or department.
If you would like to know if CAF is applicable to your organisation please contact us or ask our expert.
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