Quality assessment systems for business organisations and also for vocational schools were established in Estonia at the beginning of 2000s. Almost ten years later, corresponding systems were introduced also for highe...Quality assessment systems for business organisations and also for vocational schools were established in Estonia at the beginning of 2000s. Almost ten years later, corresponding systems were introduced also for higher education institutions （HEIs）. All these assessment systems are based on the European Foundation of Quality Management （EFQM） excellence model. The aim of this paper is to analyse benefits, difficulties, and success factors of quality assessment processes in Estonian business organisations, vocational schools, and HEIs. The study is based on the analysis of feedback questionnaire of 404 representatives from participating organisations （HEIs, vocational schools, and business enterprises） and assessors. Our analysis revealed that quality assessment processes including self-assessment reporting had a positive effect on organisation development and it has given the participants certain benefits and new challenges. As a consequence, knowledge about quality management as well as the self-assessment skills has been improved. The main difficulties were connected to limited time resources and with problems to recognize direct benefits of quality assessment. As substantial difficulties, limitations of analytical and report-writing skills were considered. As the biggest success factor, an involvement of managers on different levels decision making was recognized. The analysis revealed that there are a number of similar benefits and difficulties in the quality assessment systems of different organizations.展开更多
1. The focus is on private foundations, which are engaged in advancing science, technology, and the humanities. In this context the Volkswagen Foundationis a prominent example for Germany. 2. Accordingly, the paper do...1. The focus is on private foundations, which are engaged in advancing science, technology, and the humanities. In this context the Volkswagen Foundationis a prominent example for Germany. 2. Accordingly, the paper does not look at the management within firms , but at the systemic level of innovation management. Though innovation has a broadermeaning, including also economic, social, and political aspects. research and higher education are central arenas and factors of change. 3. Contemporary research and higher education are confronted with new challenges, which require new responses and new forms of innovation management: science and technology has become an integral part of the knowledge- based society; the boundaries between basic and applied research are vanishing, problem --oriented research is increasing, as a consequence the demand for inter展开更多
文摘Quality assessment systems for business organisations and also for vocational schools were established in Estonia at the beginning of 2000s. Almost ten years later, corresponding systems were introduced also for higher education institutions （HEIs）. All these assessment systems are based on the European Foundation of Quality Management （EFQM） excellence model. The aim of this paper is to analyse benefits, difficulties, and success factors of quality assessment processes in Estonian business organisations, vocational schools, and HEIs. The study is based on the analysis of feedback questionnaire of 404 representatives from participating organisations （HEIs, vocational schools, and business enterprises） and assessors. Our analysis revealed that quality assessment processes including self-assessment reporting had a positive effect on organisation development and it has given the participants certain benefits and new challenges. As a consequence, knowledge about quality management as well as the self-assessment skills has been improved. The main difficulties were connected to limited time resources and with problems to recognize direct benefits of quality assessment. As substantial difficulties, limitations of analytical and report-writing skills were considered. As the biggest success factor, an involvement of managers on different levels decision making was recognized. The analysis revealed that there are a number of similar benefits and difficulties in the quality assessment systems of different organizations.
文摘1. The focus is on private foundations, which are engaged in advancing science, technology, and the humanities. In this context the Volkswagen Foundationis a prominent example for Germany. 2. Accordingly, the paper does not look at the management within firms , but at the systemic level of innovation management. Though innovation has a broadermeaning, including also economic, social, and political aspects. research and higher education are central arenas and factors of change. 3. Contemporary research and higher education are confronted with new challenges, which require new responses and new forms of innovation management: science and technology has become an integral part of the knowledge- based society; the boundaries between basic and applied research are vanishing, problem --oriented research is increasing, as a consequence the demand for inter
