FOREWORD
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The APO has recognized for
some time that productivity and quality awards
that which recognize excellent organizational
performance have emerged as a significant component
of productivity and quality improvement strategies
of many countries. A leading example is the well-known
Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, which
the USA launched in 1988. Since then, it has become
a major driving force in revitalizing the competitiveness
of American firms in the global economy. Now recognized
as a de facto global standard on management systems
and practices that lead to performance excellence,
It has influenced other countries in establishing
similar awards such as the European Quality Award,
the British Quality Award and the Japan Quality
Award.
Today, there are more than 70 countries with
similar quality and business excellence award
systems. Among the APO member countries, some
13 countries have introduced quality award systems,
often with the assistance of technical experts
deputed by APO. This testifies to the increased
global interest in the promotion of such awards
at the national level. While many countries have
modeled after the Baldrige Award, Japan’s
Deming Prize, and European Quality Award in developing
their award systems, others have evolved their
own evaluation criteria and systems taking socio-cultural
backgrounds in view.
Many member countries have expressed a desire
to promote sharing of experiences so as to enhance
the effectiveness of such award systems and also
motivate those member countries that have not
adopted such systems. Against this background,
the APO organized a Symposium on Quality and Business
Excellence Awards in September 2001 in Fiji. The
symposium was a platform for closer deliberations
among participants from APO member-countries to
gain new insights on the national strategies and
initiatives for promoting quality and business
excellence awards; discuss issues related to the
design and promotion of such awards; and explore
possible areas of collaboration in the areas of
harmonization of awards including the framework
and assessment process, exchange of best practice
information, and joint research and studies.
This book is a compilation of contributions to,
and discussions within, the symposium. We trust
that the publication will be useful to member
country governments who are contemplating on establishing
national quality and business excellence award
systems to improve the competitiveness of their
industries. The APO would like to thank the government
of Fiji for hosting the symposium and the resource
persons who provided their knowledge and expertise.
Our special thanks are due to Dr. Luis Ma. R.
Calingo, resource person for the symposium and
editor of this publication, for his total commitment
and effective leadership during the symposium
and for bringing this publication to completion.
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