Fire brigades – organisational assessment through excellence approach

Purpose – This paper aims to report the first part of a research project to understand the implementation of the Common Assessment Framework (CAF) model to assist the management of fire brigades.

Design/methodology/approach – The paper involves a qualitative approach, a descriptive exploratory study that follows a case study method. The instrument used to gather empirical data was the CAF tool and involved four fire brigades. The study was anchored in the quality management literature and CAF model.

Findings – The results contribute to creating knowledge about CAF’s role as a useful and important tool to help fire brigades, to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of their management through the process of self-assessment and implementation of improvement initiatives.

Research limitations/implications – The results need further validation in other fire departments. However, the results highlight the importance of implementing CAF to assist the management of fire brigades.

Practical implications – The results encourage fire brigade organizations to introduce self- assessment with CAF.

Originality/value – This investigation is a unique study, as it explores the use of CAF in fire brigades. The paper outline an analysis that does not exist in the literature, outside the scope of operational fire- fighting intervention, in particular the weaknesses and strengths regarding the management model, in its different domains: leadership, strategy, human resources, material resources, partnerships and process management of fire brigades.

See paper

Afsari, Mahtab and Vasigh, Hesam Javadi J. (2017), “Evaluation of the critical success factors in the implementation of knowledge management using fuzzy ANP and fuzzy DEMATEL techniques. A case study of the Tehran fire department”, Zeszytynaukowe Politechnik Ipoznańskiej, n. 75, Organizacja i Zarządzanie.

Alves, E. and Moura e Sá, Patrícia (2018). Aplicação da CAF em Portugal: um estudo sobre o papel desempenhado pela DGAEP e a experiência do ISS na implementação do modelo”. Proceedings of IX Encontro de Tróia. Available at https://publicacoes.riqual.org/troia-ix-109-126/ (accessed 7 May 2020).

Bouckaert, G. (2002), “Administrative convergence in the EU: Some conclusions for CEECs”, In F. Van Den Berg, G. Jenei, and L. T. Leloup (Eds.), East-West co-operation in public sector reform: Cases and results in Central and Eastern Europe (pp. 59–68), Amsterdam: International Institute of Adminisrative Science (IIAS) and IOS Press.

Cândido, J. (2014), A CAF como instrumento de mudança: a aplicação do modelo Common Assessment Framework na Direção de Apoio Social da Marinha, Instituto Superior de Economia e Gestão, https://www.repository.utl.pt/handle/10400.5/8281.

CTI, Comissão Técnica Independente, Guerreiro J., Fonseca C., Salgueiro A., Fernandes P., Lopez Iglésias E., de Neufville R., Mateus F., Castellnou Ribau M., Sande Silva J., Moura J. M., Castro Rego F. e Caldeira D. N. – Coords. (2018), Avaliação dos incêndios ocorridos entre 14 e 16 de outubro de 2017 em Portugal Continental, Relatório Final, Assembleia da República, Lisboa.

Deng, Tzu-Jeng, Charng-Horng Hsieh, Chyan Yang and Her-Jiun Sheu (2001), “A Conceptual Framework For Improving Fire-Fighting Service Quality Of A Public Fire Department”, International Journal of Public Administration, 24(4), 405-422. https://doi.org/10.1081/PAD-100000715

DGAEP (2017), Modelo Estrutura Comum de Avaliação (CAF 2013), Versão portuguesa da Common Assessment Framework, Direção Geral da Administração e Emprego Público, Lisboa.

DGAEP (2020), Common Assessment Framework, A CAF em Portugal, Investigação científica sobre a CAF, Avaible at https://www.caf.dgaep.gov.pt/index.cfm?OBJID=5455B0F7-192E-4C67-8A86- A4040076D942 (accessed 7 May 2020).

Engel, C. (2002), “Common assessment framework: The state of affairs”, EIPASCOPE, 1, 35–39.

EIPA, (2012), Improving Public Organisations through Self-Assessment, CAF Education, Maastricht: European CAF Resource Centre.

Evans, J. R. (2008), Quality & performance excellence: Management, organization and strategy (5th ed.), Mason, OH: Thomson South-Western.

Figueiredo, J., Tavares, L. and Alves, A. (2005), Processos de mudança na administração pública: cultura de direção, novos modelos de formação e o futuro das ciências da administração, Instituto Nacional de Administração.

Fortin, M. F. (2000), O processo de investigação da concepção à realização, Ed. Lusodidacta.

García-Fernández, J., Fernández-Gavira, J. and Bernal-García, A. (2014), “La percepción de calidad y fidelidad en clients de centros de fitness low cost”, Suma Psicológica, 21(2), 123-130.

Goode, W. J. and Hatt, P. K. (1969), Métodos em pesquisa social, Cia Editora Nacional, SP, 3ª ed.

Hoon, C. (2013), “Meta–Synthesis of Qualitative Case Studies An Approach to Theory Building”, Organizational Research Methods, 16(4), 522-556.

Ismail Sila (2020), “Investigating changes in TQM’s effects on corporate social performance and financial performance over time”, Total Quality Management & Business Excellence, 31(1-2), 210- 229.

Kalfa, M. and Yetim, A. A. (2018), “Organizational self-assessment based on common assessment framework to improve the organizational quality in public administration”, Total Quality Management & Business Excellence, 1-18. DOI: 10.1080/14783363.2018.1475223.

Marques, I. & Saraiva, M. (2011), “Avaliação da Qualidade Organizacional em Cuidados de Saúde Primários, através da Common Assessment Framework – O caso da Região Alentejo”, II Proceedings of                      3º.                  Encontro                  de                  Tróia.                   Avaible                  at https://dspace.uevora.pt/rdpc/bitstream/10174/3641/1/Avalia%C3%A7%C3%A3o%20da.pdf (accessed 7 May 2020).

Nogueiro, T. and Saraiva, M. (2008), “Quality on the Portuguese Public Institutions and the CAF model: empiric study on the University of Évora”, Universidade de Évora. Avaible at http://www.rdpc.uevora.pt/bitstream/10174/6316/1/paper_INTED2008.pdf (accessed at 7 May 2020).

Pedreira, J. (2008), Implementação de um Modelo de Criação de Valor na Força Aérea ‘CAF (Common Assessment Framework)’, Instituto de Estudos Superiores Militares. Avaible at https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/62704249.pdf (accessed at 7 May 2020).

RCPAR, Regional Centre for Public Administration Reform of UNDP Bratislava Regional Centre (2011), Common Assessment Framework Good Practice Book, IQUAL Improving Quality of Public Administration through the Application of the CAF Model / Adv. Dmitry Maslov.

Saumure, K., and Given Lisa M. (2008), Convenience Sample. In The SAGE Encyclopedia of Qualitative Research Methods. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

Staes P., Thijs N., Stoffels A. and Geldof S. (2011), Five Years of CAF 2006: From Adolescence to Maturity – What next? A study on the use, the support and the future of the Common Assessment Framework. EIPA, Maastricht.

Staes P., Thijs N. and Claessens D. (2016), CAF Improvement Identification, Prioritisation and Implementation, Maastricht: CAF Resource Centre European Institute of Public Administration, EIPA.

Triviños, A. (1987), Introdução à pesquisa em ciências sociais: a pesquisa qualitativa em educação. São Paulo: Atlas.

Tzelepis, D., Tsekouras, K., Skuras, D. and Dimara, E. (2006), “The effects of ISO 9001 on firms’ productive efficiency”, International Journal of Operations & Production Management, 26(10), 1146- 1165.

Vrabková, I. (2013), “Quality Management in Public Sector: Perspectives of Common Assessment Framework Model in the European Union”, ACTA VSFS, University of Finance and Administration, 7(2), 145-159.

Van Trijp, J. (2013), “First overview of the relationship between quantitative dynamic operational resilience and the Dutch Fire Services occupational safety and quality management program Cicero”, Conference: ESREL2013 conference on Safety, Reliability and Risk Analysis, Beyond the Horizon At: Amsterdam, Netherlands, DOI: 10.1201/b15938-253.

Vakalopoulou, M. A., Tsiotras, G. & Gotzamani, K. (2013), “Implementing CAF in public administration Best practices in Europe – obstacles and challenges”, Benchmarking: An International Journal, 20(6), 744-764.

Wiśniewska, M. and Szczepańska, K. A. (2014), “Quality management frameworks implementation in Polish local governments”, Total Quality Management & Business Excellence, 25 (3-4) 352-366.

Yin, R. K. (2009), Case study research: Design and methods (4 ed.), Los Angeles, CA: Sage.

Zeithaml, V. A., Bitner, M. J. and Gremler, D. D. (2006), Service marketing: Integrating customer focus across the firm, (4th ed.), New York, NY: McGraw-Hill/ Irwin.

Common Assessment Framework (CAF), Excellence, Fire brigade, Quality management