Activities

CAF Training at EIPA

Agenda 2010: Overview of CAF training and activities
For further information, please download the details.

CAF Users Events

Since the launch of CAF in 2000, it was clear that mutual understanding and bench learning among CAF users would be a strong impetus for the success of the model in Europe. European CAF Users’ Events are thus organised on a regular basis with the aim of being an inspiring meeting point for CAF users and to further spread TQM in the public sector in Europe.

In 2003 and 2005 CAF Users from all over Europe met in Rome and Luxembourg at the first two European CAF Users’ Events. Each time, nearly 150 CAF users discussed the implementation of the model, its features and its difficulties. The Portuguese Presidency organised the 3^rd European CAF Users’ Event in Lisbon in 2007. This 3^rd Event focused on the effects of the CAF self-assessment on the total quality of the organisation: CAF inspiring change.

In 2010, Romania is organising and hosting the 4^th CAF Users’ Event in cooperation with the network of CAF national correspondents and the EIPA CAF Resource Centre. The 4^th Event will have a special focus on the newly developed procedure for external feedback and offers the opportunity to celebrate 10 years of CAF.

For further information, please visit here

European Quality Conferences

Good practices at the consecutive European quality conferences (2000-2008)
This browser will enable you to find both the best practices presented during the 5th Quality Conference for Public Administrations in the EU as well as those presented during the previous Conferences

http://www.5qualiconference.eu/bp.php

CAF Centre at the quality conferences in 2006 and 2008
Here you will find information on the previous quality conferences and have access to the programme and/or presentations of the CAF centre.

A common European quality management instrument for the public sector

developed by the public sector.

The Common Assessment Framework (CAF) is a result of the co-operation among the EU Ministers responsible for Public Administration. A pilot version was presented in May 2000 and revised versions were launched in 2002 and 2006. A CAF Resource Centre (CAF RC) was created at the European Institute of Public Administration (EIPA) in Maastricht following the decision of the Directors General in charge of public service. It works in close cooperation with the network of CAF national correspondents.

The CAF is an easy-to-use, free tool to assist public-sector organisations across Europe in using quality management techniques to improve their performance. The CAF is a total quality management (TQM) tool which is inspired by the major Total Quality models in general, and by the Excellence Model of the European Foundation for Quality Management (EFQM) in particular. It is especially designed for public-sector organisations, taking into account their characteristics.

The model is based on the premise that excellent results in organisational performance, citizens/customers, people and society are achieved through leadership driving strategy and planning, people, partnerships, resources and processes. It looks at the organisation from different angles at the same time; a holistic approach to organisation performance analysis.

Structure

The CAF has four main purposes:

To introduce public administrations to the principles of TQM and gradually guide them, through the use and understanding of self-assessment, from the current “Plan-Do” sequence of activities to a full fledged “Plan-Do-Check-Act (PCDA)” cycle;
To facilitate the self-assessment of a public organisation in order to arrive at a diagnosis and improvement actions;
To act as a bridge across the various models used in quality management;
To facilitate bench learning between public-sector organisations.

Highly appreciated in the CAF implementation is the involvement of staff. CAF is a joint project for management and staff and very often CAF is the first occasion in which management and staff meet to discuss the state of affairs of the organisation and the options for the future in order to improve efficiency and effectiveness.

The use of CAF in Europe

Over the past 10 years, nearly 2000 public sector organisations all over Europe have used the model and the number of CAF Users is still growing.

In 2009, the CAF External Feedback has been created to further support organisations in using the CAF most effectively in their future quality management journey. This procedure carried out by peers and experts in TQM aims at providing external feedback on the introduction of total quality management with the help of CAF, not only relating to the self-assessment process, but also regarding the path organisations have chosen to attain excellence in the long run.

This website provides all the available information at European level. We invite you to discover it and to contact us if you need further information.

Patrick Staes (BE) Seconded National Expert Fields of Specialisation: Public management; quality in the public sector; Common Assessment Framework (CAF); consulting services.	Nick Thijs (BE) Lecturer Fields of Specialisation: Public management reform; comparative public administration; public sector quality management; quality models and techniques (Common Assessment Framework – CAF); consultancy services.
Lena Heidler (DE) Research Assistant Fields of Specialisation: Quality Management with a special focus on the Common Assessment Framework (CAF).	Ann Stoffels (BE) Programme Organiser

Quality Development in the Field of Justice Patrick Staes and Nick Thijs Published: 2008	CAF - Movie Caf Resource Centre Published: 2007
CAF - pour un service public de qualité Editors: Elisabeth Dearing, Patrick Staes, Thomas Prorok Published: 2006	CAF works - better service for the citizens by using CAF Editors: Elisabeth Dearing, Patrick Staes, Thomas Prorok Published: 2006
CAF - wirkt – mehr Service und Leistungsqualität für alle Editors: Elisabeth Dearing, Patrick Staes, Thomas Prorok Published: 2006	Quality Management Tools in CEE Candidate Countries: Current Practice, Needs and Expectations Christian Engel Published: 2003

Director's welcome Organisation Board of Governors Management Our experts Eipa Corporate video	Legal notice Annual Report 2008
In fulfilling its core mission to provide relevant and high quality services to develop the capacities of public officials dealing with EU affairs, EIPA works along three lines: Learning & Development, Consultancy and Research.