We are using 3 tools to develop the self assessment tool for educational and training organisations, namely,

	Goa - Workbench®
	Fit for Excellence
	Integrated Quality Management(IQM)

GOA-WorkBench®

GOA-WorkBench is a software support for assessment and survey based management techniques, centered around the EFQM Excellence Model.

The software was a main result of the ESPRIT Project AnaFact (1996-1999) subsequently extended by results of the Innovation Projects HRM-WorkBench and TQM-Net, as well as the TEN-Telecom Project TeleBEN. Since 2001,GOA has been continously been improved and extended by commercial efforts and the software is currently the only software package licensed by EFQM as a full support for the implementation of the Excellence Model, that additionally also fully supports alternative approches like ISO 9004, CommonAssessment Framework, Learning Organisation Practices or Project Excellence, as well als a number of HRM specific methodologies. GOA is currently available in eight languages.

Due to the strict adherence to the underlying model of each knowledge base, GOA addresses all fields for which the supported management technology is valid. Through the knowledge bases, GOA supports the learning, implementation and daily use of the different managment technologies, by offering the relevant question catalogues, interfaces to adapt and distribute them and an engin to accumulate and analyse the retourning responses.

The software is developed for easy handling and offers easy implementation and understanding of modern management technologies (like CAF, EFQM, "Fit for Excellence" or ISO 9004) with a strong reduction of resources needed for running the underlying assessments and surveys.

The innovation of GOA lies in the fact that it allows easy access to specialist know-how on management techniques and supports the end user in all routine and administrative aspects of the usage of these solutions. This includes both the internal aspects of the user organisation, as well as their external efforts to design, run and analyse customer surveys.

In addition to this the GOA Balanced Q-Card takes up the non-quantitative answers (e.g. suggestions, criticisms) and allows them to discuss and rate them via the companies intranet. The result is a prioritised action list, taking into account, both individual votes and strategic values and including plans of implementation. The planning and tracing of improvement projects is consistent with the demands of the "Commited to Excellence" process.

This approach allows to link assessment and survey methods with the continuous improvement process while allowing a strong build up of motivation by allowing to involve the whole organisation in the process.

GOA WorkBench® is the exclusive property of IBK Management Solutions GmbH

"Fit for Excellence"

To introduce total quality management based on the full EFQM scheme is too difficult for most SMEs. Therefore, Dr. Ospelt, an owner of several SMEs, developed an EFQM based self-assessment for SMEs, called "Fit for Excellence".

The first step of a given company's improvement process is a self assessment. For this approach, "Fit for Excellence" uses a systematic enquiry following the philosophy of EFQM with the same structure of the nine criteria; but the language is easier and all questions are adapted to SMEs. "Fit for Excellence" is the first step on the way for reaching excellence and links into a later use of the full EFQM model.

The method of "Fit for Excellence" is designed for the involvement of the leading employees and it is not necessary that all employees should have much know-how on self assessment.

The second step is the discussion of improvement potential and then the documentation of improvement possibilities.

In the third step there is a consensus meeting in which all proposals are established in priorities, which subsequently leads to to-do lists.

Integrated Quality Management (IQM)

IQM, developed in the framework of two Leonardo projects, provides a specific translation of the EFQM criteria into the language, issues, indicators, instruments and actions of a VET organisation.

It can be used as a guide for workshops as well as a questionnaire for self-assessment. It finally integrates links to the corresponding ISO 9001 elements, thus facilitating, as a result of improvement agreements and action, the composition of a Quality Manual according to the rules of the ISO standard.

The outcome of such a process is an integrated quality management according to EFQM optionally leading to successful ISO certification without additional efforts and expenses.