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Deriving the Franchising model from EFQM
Generally, quality management systems are designed in order to meet the quality standards laid down by the management of an organization. It includes the organizational structure, responsibilities, processes and resources required to meet these basic minimum quality standards. The most important concept that has to be introduced to an organization is the establishment of a quality culture that is enshrined in a set of commonly agreed upon standards and principles and in order to ensure their compliance a system for monitoring, maintaining and steering has to be put into place. The franchising model for development programmes is based upon principles of quality management. The European Foundation for Quality Management –EFQM, served as the model for the franchising approach. The basic assumption being made in the EFQM model is that it is possible to develop a quality model and criteria that are applicable as a basis for quality improvement across all organizations. Organisational improvements both in terms of quantity and quality can be achieved through effective policies and strategies, by focusing on the employees within the organization as well as through proper management of the resources and workflows. The EFQM Excellence Model is a non-prescriptive framework based on nine criteria. Five of these are Enablers and four are Results.
- Enabler criteria cover what an organization does and what the main principles for successful production are.
- Results criteria cover what an organization achieves. ‘Results’ are caused by ‘Enablers’.
The Model, recognizing there are many approaches to achieving sustainable excellence in all aspects of performance, is based on the premise that:
- Excellent results with respect to Performance, Customers, People and Society are achieved through Partnerships, Resources and Processes.
The arrows in figure 1 emphasize the dynamic nature of the model. They show innovation and learning helping to improve enablers that in turn lead to improved results. `
Fundamental concepts of EFQM:
- Results Orientation: Excellence is dependent upon balancing and satisfying the needs of all relevant stakeholders (this includes the people employed, customers, suppliers and society in general as well as those with financial interests in the organization).
- Customer Focus: The customer is the final arbiter of product and service quality and customer loyalty, retention and market share gains are best optimised through a clear focus on the needs of current and potential customers.
- Leadership & Constancy of Purpose: The behaviour of an organization’s leaders creates a clarity and unity of purpose within the organization and an environment in which the organization and its people can excel.
- Management by Processes & Facts: Organizations perform more effectively when all inter-related activities are transparent, systematically planned and managed. Decisions concerning current operations and planned improvements are made using reliable information that includes stakeholder perceptions.
- People Development & Involvement: The full potential of an organization’s people is best released through shared values and a culture of trust and empowerment, which encourages the involvement of everyone.
Figure 1: Components of the EFQM model
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- Continuous Learning, Innovation & Improvement: Organizational performance is maximised when it is based on the management and sharing of knowledge within a culture of continuous learning, innovation and improvement.
- Partnership Development: An organization works more effectively when it has mutually beneficial relationships, built on trust, sharing of knowledge and integration, with its Partners.
- Public Responsibility: The long-term interest of the organization and its people are best served by adopting an ethical approach and exceeding the expectations and regulations of the community at large.
Steps required for developing a franchising model
Step 1: Results oriented programme as a basis
The selection of a development programme that is to be franchised should be based upon a number of criteria:
- The programme concept and approach is not unduly complicated.
- The programme generates tangible impacts amongst the beneficiaries in a relatively short-period of time.
- The programme is not in a pilot stage but has already been or is in the process of becoming a national programme.
- The programme has been proven to be successful and results oriented
- The concept of the programme must be easily understandable.
Step 2: Define the essential core components of the programme
Select the core elements within the programme that have proven to male the programme successful. These components can viewed similar to the pillars of a house, they form the pillars of the programme. Without them the programme cannot be implemented successfully. Core components that can be selected include: Transparency, Social Mobilisation, Beneficiary Targeting, Process approach and User Group Implementation, Good governance, etc.
Step 3: Agree upon a measure quality performance
- A scoring system has to be developed and agreed upon that is universal to all quality assurance questions that may be posed.
- It is important to agree upon the terminology of the scoring system first prior to defining the standards to be fulfilled.
- The main question is, to what extend the quality standard or criteria of the standard have been met (compare example in table 1)
Table 1: Common scoring system for all defined standards
Step 4: Determine whether organisations fulfil minimum standards
- Agree upon a minimum standard or a “band-width” of standards that are to be achieved. The following helps to determine whether capacity building should be undertaken for the partner organisations:
- A franchising organisation may meet or surpass the minimum standards. In this case training is not necessary. However, during implementation a review of the franchisee organisation would determine whether the minimum standards continue to be met/ upheld. Training and technical assistance may be required in order to ensure continued compliance with the minimum standards.
- A partner organisation does NOT meet the minimum standards. However, the franchisee organisation shows that internally it basically follows similar principles and standards and there is enough scope to train the franchisee organisation to eventually meet the minimum standards. In this case capacity building will have to be provided in order to introduce and raise the defined standards.
- A partner organisation does NOT meet the minimum standards. Furthermore, within the franchisee organisation the similar standards are also not followed. No possibility is seen to undertake training or capacity building for the potential franchisee partner organisation. In this scenario the franchising organisation would have to seriously think whether they provide the organisation with a franchising licence.
Figure 2: Linking quality standards to capacity building
Step 5: Define the exact standards for each quality indicator
Each quality indicator requires a precise definition.A triangulation process between the internationally accepted definition of the indicator, the regional / national and local definition has to be undertaken. In the triangulation approach the definition to be used in the franchising model has to be derived.
- Present the internationally agreed upon definition of the indicator (short paragraph).
- Elaborate what the regional or nationally agreed upon definition of the indicator is.
- If a there is a locally agreed upon standard definition of the indicator, this too needs to be analysed.
- On the basis of the three definitions the programme has to determine how it wishes to define the indicator.
- The definition has to be written in such a way that it minimises subjective interpretations and that it is culturally relevant.
- The indicator will then define the minimum standard to be achieved by the franchisee.
Figure 3: Process for introduction and improvement of a Quality Management system
Figure 3 depicts a process in which quality steering, quality assurance and quality improvement forms a continuous learning and self-improvement cycle. First, management has to define the main elements that should make up the quality management system. In this case it means defining the main pillars upon which quality will be measured. Thereafter, the quality management system has to be planned and elaborated, this includes defining the standards for the QM system. Quality steering, quality assurance and quality improvement forms a continuous learning and self-improvement cycle.
Step 6: Field test the indicators
- It is important that the indicators and the mode of measurement are thoroughly field-tested.
- The possibility for ambiguity, alternative cultural interpretation must be removed as far as possible.
- The aim should be that any person making the assessment should rank the results without undue discrepancies (i.e. the indicators need to be independently verifiable)
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