Excellence in Institution

Introduction

The enlightened approach of Mehr FCI towards applying and establishing the organizational excellence model of EFQM indicates the profound thinking of the institution supreme managers in equipping the institution for the purpose of being established in the cruel competitive area ruling over the economic firms: the environment in which the organizations deal with two destinies, either they are eliminated from the competitive settings and dying gradually, or they are supplied with the equipments and instruments of a compatible organization and in this way they can survive. Therefore, that the managers and colleagues know the excellence of the organization and the characteristics of an excellent organization can effectively facilitate the realization of this approach. For this very purpose, we have a discussion with the managing director of Mehr FCI, Dr. Shafi’zadeh, who is the head of Excellence Leadership Council in order to know the characteristics and the way of establishing this model in the institution.

Mehr FCI in the Excellence Path

1.     Dr. Shafi’zadeh, would you please tell us: “Why have you chosen the excellence model (EFQM) and applied it in the institution?”

Ÿ The organizational excellence model or EFQM including all constitutions of trade considers the interests of all beneficiaries. This model is a framework for establishing a proper management in the organization and this can be served as an instrument for evaluating the rate of establishing the management systems; moreover, by means of this model, the merits and improvable areas of the institution are recognized, and the operation of the institution will be assessed based on this model.

2.     Would you please explain us: “Why has the institution participated in the Iranian National Productivity and Business Excellence Award?”

Ÿ By participating in the Iranian National Productivity and Business Excellence Award, Mehr FCI examines itself among the excellent organizations. On the other hand, it can enjoy the thriving experiences of other organizations, through which the appropriate points of the institution will promote and it will be possible to plan for realizing the improvable areas of the institution. Also, the institution will step into an extended exchange for trading and interchanging the experiences with other organizations.   

3. Would you please explain: “In which level of excellence awards has the institution participated in 1387?”

Ÿ This year, Mehr FCI has participated in the level of Committed to Excellence. The declaration of Committed to Excellence has submitted to the Institution for Productivity and Human Resources Development. After investigating the declaration, the institution will send its master assessors to Mehr FCI in Bahman of the current year.

4. “What are the qualifications for receiving this certificate?”

Ÿ According to the regulations of Iranian National Productivity and Business Excellence Award, there are 4 essential covenants and also the results of the institution assessment, i.e. 4-procedure methods (questionnaire, workshop, pro forma, and award imagery), exploring the improvable areas and prioritizing them, performing at least 3 improvement programs and making the superior and interior managers perfectly familiar with the excellence model for receiving the certificate of Committed to Excellence.

5. “Which method has been chosen by the institution from among the self-evaluation methods?”

Ÿ In order to receive the certificate of Committed to Excellence, the institution has chosen the 50-question technique and the assimilation workshop for self-evaluating. Moreover, self-evaluating through pro forma (10-page forms) is placed in the program so that the improvable areas for 3-5 years can be discovered by the institution, and they may be operated in the yearly programs of the institution.  

6. “What kind of management systems are presently formed and established in the institution?”

Ÿ The management systems, presently formed or established in the institution, are: the Strategic Management, ISO Standards, Productivity Management, Human Resources Comprehensive System, Market and Marketing Investigations, Opinion-Rating of Staff and Customers, Liquidating Management, 5S System, Suggestion System, Excellence Model of the Institution, PIP, Risk-Taking Management, etc.   

7. According to the point that the model emphasizes on Leadership criterion, as the head of the Excellence Leadership Council: “What kind of measures have you taken in this regard?”

Ÿ In the leadership criterion, this model refers to the role of leaders of the organization in establishing and developing the excellence culture. Thus, some of the measures taken in this regard are: personal and continual studies, employing various advisors, pursuing the activities of Mehr Excellence Development and Planning Deputyship and Secretariat, activating the Deputies’ Council and stressing on conforming the missions and activities in the institution based on excellence model. Fortunately, through the Will of God, all these measures have been very effective and creative.  

8. “What measures have been taken by the deputies of the Central Department in this regard?”

Ÿ From among the activities of the central department deputies, I can refer to: the correspondence of the deputies’ programs with the excellence model, the perfect cooperation of deputies in self-evaluating the institution by means of pro formas and questionnaires, constant cooperation of the deputies with Mehr Excellence Secretariat in various excellence programs, providing the situation for establishing human resources’ Mehr excellence model, etc.   

9. “Have you enjoyed the experiences of other successful organization regarding conforming and establishing this model?”

Ÿ Yes, we have. In addition to use several advisors and select appropriate patterns of other organizations through investigating the information, the secretariat authorities formed the excellence tour and we visited SAPCO Company in Azar 1387; there, the procedures of conforming and establishing the excellence model in that company was examined. 

10. Dr. Shafi’zadeh, according to your explanations in this regard, would you please tell us: “How this model can help the managers of the organizations?”

Ÿ  The pivotal concepts of this model are based on conclusionism, costumer-centeredness, inspired and perspective-centered leadership, process-based management, cooperation and development of human resources, learning and innovation, development of the companies and social responsibilities. On the other hand, the aim of this model is to promote the management level of the organizations to the leadership level; and this may be a great achievement for the managers of the organizations. 

11. As the final question, would you tell us: “Have you provided any road map for advancing in the excellence path?”

Ÿ The excellence path is endless and exhausting, however, possible to pass; Mehr FCI is a herald institution in financial activities entering this path. It aims to advance the excellence levels respectively in achieving Committed Certificate, Esteem Certificate, Golden, Silver and Crystalline Statues, through establishing this model comprehensively. Of course, as you know, for achieving such levels, we need to undertake many difficulties; since, it is possible to get to the highest level by undertaking some efforts, but for remaining in that highest level, we need to endeavor permanently and continually.