Introduction
Over the recent past, the world has witnessed pronounced changes in technology and consumer demands. Companies operating in all sectors have experienced the challenges advanced by these changes. As such, several companies are continually striving to develop and use measures that help them deliver the best products that match consumer expectations in terms of quality and price. Al Hosn Company is one of the companies that wish to employ a program known as the ‘excellence program’ using awards given to the best-performing employees and teams. From the awards, the company can enjoy enhanced product quality and high levels of development from human resources, who are motivated to work hard and deliver the best. To improve the understanding of the concepts incorporated by the excellence program, the case uses studies from MacDonald and Nokia companies. The case assesses how MacDonald and Nokia companies applied SMART and SWOT principles in implementing their excellence programs. It is within this backdrop that the case establishes the relevance of the EFQM Excellence Program and the RADAR Methodology and examines the importance of awards in the application of the excellence program at Al Hosn Gas Company.
Overview of Al Hosn Gas Company, Excellence Program, and its Importance
With its headquarters in Abu Dhabi, Al Hosn Gas Company deals with the development of reservoirs used in the storage of sour gas in the Arabian region. Some of the reservoirs that the company wants to develop include A, B, C, and D located in the Shah Fields. The principal focus of the company is to ensure that the services rendered in fields such as Shah meet high standards of technology, sustainability, engineering, and maintenance. Moreover, the company strives to produce environmentally friendly services. According to the Grünewälder, companies keen on issues regarding excellence and innovation advance and achieve their desired objectives (14). Imminently, the driving force behind the company’s intent to develop outstanding products and up to the required standards emanates from the ever-changing consumer dynamics and technologies employed by competing firms.
On the other hand, the excellence program focuses on the development of products that are exceptional in terms of quality and price. The program encourages employees to deliver the best and employ high levels of innovation and creativity in an attempt to ensure that what the clients receive is satisfactory. Remarkably, the program uses components like product, price, customers, and production. Verity, Gautam, and Maenen highlight that with an excellence program, a company can effectively meet its expected quality under minimal cost using modern technology (4). In Al Hosn Company, the program facilitates the development of sour gas reservoirs that not only match stakeholder requirements in terms of price and quality but also help the company achieve the much-desired consumer loyalty. Imperatively, the program uses models such as SMART and SWOT to compound its effectiveness in a respective company.
Awareness Creation and Use of Awards in Application of Excellence Program
Effective application of excellence program depends greatly on the level of awareness that a company undertakes on its human resources, stakeholders, and consumers. A good awareness creation, which uses annual, bi-annual, or monthly sessions, results in the inefficient application of the excellence program, and thus, the achievement of the expected objectives that include the delivery of superior products. According to Keillor, the human resources of a company need adequate information and education about the program and the benefits that accrue from its application (87). Therefore, companies like Al Hosn Gas must undertake awareness creation and devise sessions that enhance the understanding of its human resources and management on the aspects of the program. Awards, employee education, use of high-end facilities, and modern technologies are some of the components that the excellence program can use to realize its goal in product delivery. Al Hosn Gas Company wishes to use awards in its quest to achieve the objective of high-end product delivery and meet goals such as sustainability, eco-friendly product delivery, and the use of contemporary technologies.
Fundamentally, awards are among the major components that companies can use in the attainment of a successful excellence program. The awards may comprise awards to excellent employees working in technical fields, excellent human resources in non-technical fields, best technical and non-technical teams, best performers in the business, and innovative employees (Grünewälder 26). These awards not only boost the self-esteem of best performers but also encourage others in the company to work hard so that they can receive the award. Therefore, the company enjoys long-term success and high-quality products from employees striving to retain the awards and those working hard to receive them. Wise use of awards in excellence program is a good ingredient in the realization of the company’s success and progress.
SMART and SWOT Analysis in MacDonald and Nokia Companies
SMART is a principle that successful companies use in the application of the excellence program. The principle helps companies apply for the program efficiently. According to Keillor, MacDonald Company applies the model, which represents specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and time-bound to provide consumers with products that they expect in the market (93). Using the principle, departments in the company can devise programs that are within their schedule and do not strain their operational budgets. Imminently, the SMART principle helps MacDonald and Nokia companies handle their departments and employ their resources, which comprise employees optimally. It is notable to state that Al Hosn Gas Company can use the SMART principle to achieve its goals. In Al Hosn Gas Company, departments such as production, supply, and delivery can utilize the factors presented by the principle to outsmart its competitors and successfully develop its reservoirs in Shah Field.
Consequently, SWOT analysis is another principle that companies can use in the effective application of the excellence program. SWOT analysis represents the strengths, threats, opportunities, and weaknesses of a respective company. Practically, SWOT analysis is very vital in companies such as MacDonald, Nokia, and Al Hosn. In application of the excellence model, Nokia Company has used the factors in the SWOT analysis to ensure that its potential consumers receive the best and become loyal to its products (Grünewälder 11). In effect, Al Hosn Gas Company can employ the concepts of SWOT analysis to achieve its goals, which incorporate sustainability, use of contemporary technologies, and high-end development of reservoirs A, B, C, and D. Therefore, SWOT analysis is a principle that managers and stakeholders in Al Hosn Gas Company cannot downplay in development and application of the excellence program.
EFQM Model and Radar Methodology
EFQM (European Foundation for Quality Management) excellence model is a model that several organizations in regions like the Middle East, Europe, and South America apply in employee management. The model is very practical as it helps organizations understand their present state of excellence, identify gaps that limit the achievement of the desired goals, and devise future programs that improve employee performance. In addition, the model helps organizations develop and use awards in a manner that motivates and improve the productivity of employees. To compound the importance of awards in employee productivity, EFQM has a program that honors best-performing organizations annually. To succeed and attain a high level of employee performance, companies need to utilize outstanding excellence models (Verity, Gautam, and Maanen 13). Therefore, Al Hosn Gas Company should understand the outstanding nature of the EFQM Model and its relevance in the quest to employ and use awards in employee motivation. By employing the model, the company can effectively achieve its desired success goals and foster employee productivity.
Consequently, the RADAR Methodology is a very instrumental tool that Al Hosn Gas Company can utilize in the measurement and assessment of the results obtained from the excellence program. The methodology has four main foundations that make it significant for organizations that strive towards success and optimal utility of resources like human resources. In the elucidation of Keillor, best-performing organizations employ effective methodologies to assess their progress (65). Readiness, awareness, defense, analytics, and response are the foundations that make up the RADAR Methodology and compound its relevance in organizational success. Using the foundations, Al Hosn Gas Company can successfully assess its progress, create requisite awareness amongst its employees, and deliver awards in an organized manner, which results in the eventual improvement of performance and product quality. As such, RADAR Methodology is practical in the execution of excellence programs and organizational success.
Conclusion
Al Hosn Gas Company focuses on the development of gas reservoirs in the Arabian region. The company intends to develop an excellence program, which uses awards given to the best performing employees in technical and non-technical departments. When utilized effectively, the company can use the excellence program to achieve improved product quality and optimal utility of resources because employees work hard to deliver the best. Awards need a working panel, which ensures that their application is timely or annually. The implication of the annual awards is motivation and hard work from employees striving to retain the awards as well as those, who want to win the awards.
Works Cited
Grünewälder, Arend. Analysis of Nokia’s Corporate, Business, and Marketing Strategies: Examination of Nokia’s Strategy Execution in Three Steps. Hamburg: Anchor Academic Publishing, 2015. Print.
Keillor, Bruce. Marketing in the 21st Century and Beyond: Timeless Strategies for Success. Santa Barbara: Praeger, 2013. Print.
Verity, Richard, Amit Gautam, and Ralph Maenen. Commercial Excellence Program a Way for B2B Companies to Pursue Growth in Hard Times. New York: Booz & Company, 2013. Print.