Context
The Common Assessment Framework (CAF) is a vital instrument for quality management in European public institutions. It guides them in transforming from rule-bound bureaucracies to service providers focused on user needs. However, implementing CAF effectively can be challenging due to complex assessment processes and cumbersome task management. This project addresses these issues by creating CAFficiency, a task tracker specifically designed for CAF users.
Objectives
CAFficiency is designed to achieve several key objectives that enhance the overall quality management experience with CAF. This includes simplifying the assessment process through automation of task assignment, tracking and completion. Additionally, the system fosters collaboration and communication among team members and stakeholders, ensuring a smooth and efficient process. CAFficiency also centralises data collection, storage and analysis, empowering organisations to leverage data for informed decision-making and continuous improvement. Furthermore, the task tracker promotes accountability by clearly assigning tasks and tracking progress, ensuring well-defined responsibilities throughout the assessment. Finally, user-friendliness is prioritised to make the system accessible for all team members involved in CAF assessments.
Implementation
CAFficiency was created by an HR department employee overseeing CAF implementation and subsequently developed by an IT colleague. Notably, the project did not require additional funding. The user-friendly application comes with clear instructions and can be easily implemented in any environment. Currently available in Serbian and English, CAFficiency can be adapted to other languages.
The project is led by a project manager responsible for planning, coordinating and ensuring successful delivery of the task tracker. The system itself plays a supportive role by reminding task coordinators of deadlines through automated email notifications sent seven days before the task due date.