Dubai Economy and American Society for Quality Expand Partnership to Recognise Innovation Teams

Dubai Economy and the American Society for Quality (ASQ), a not-for-profit organisation of Quality professionals with a global presence in over 150 countries, have extended their partnerships to include the ASQ Team Innovation Award launched in 2017 in the UAE. The new award aims to recognise teams in organisations with a demonstrated framework to advance their innovation, gain a competitive edge and sustain their growth and business results.

The ASQ Team Innovation Award builds on the continuing partnersip between Dubai Economy and ASQ for the Quality Professional Award launched in 2015 to celebrate outstanding efforts and contributions from individuals and professionals working in the quality field in all sectors of the UAE economy. Both awards are based on the principles of fairness, transparency, objectivity, and independence along with high standards and performance.

Quality Professionals can apply in any of the two Award subcategories -  (i) Senior Management and (ii) Middle Management positions - on the Award's website (www.asquae-award.org). An additional option to nominate peers or colleagues is also available. Applicants need to complete an e-application detailing experience and academic background in addition to special initiatives or improvement projects carried out and voluntary contribution to their local quality community.

The ASQ Team Innovation Award also has two categories - (i) Product/Service and (ii) Process innovations. Innovative Teams in organisations interested to apply in any of the categories should contact the Award management on [email protected]. Applicants should complete a questionnaire designed to capture evidences on the Award criteria for enablers (7) and results (3) demonstrating a company-wide innovation programme, made successful with best practices and processes applied in the entire organisation. Application for the Award is project-based and should be applied by the innovation/project team in the organisation. 

Commenting on the initiative, Shaikha Ahmad Al Bishri, Director of the Business Excellence Department in Dubai Economy, said: “The National Innovation Strategy and its allied initiatives underline the determination of the leadership in promoting a culture of innovation in the UAE. Dubai Economy is pleased to extend our partnership with the American Society for Quality to identify and recognise efforts by organisations to advance and sustain team focus on innovations. It also contributes to our strategic alignment with the Dubai Plan 2021, particularly with its focus on creativity.”

Sunil Thawani, Member, ASQ Board of Directors, 2016-2018, said: “Inspired by UAE leadership’s vision for Innovation, ASQ has developed the first-ever Team Innovation Award for UAE with the objective of harnessing creativity of employees and recognising team efforts towards innovation”.

Applications for both the awards are open until the 30^th of July 2017. The applications will undergo three levels of independent assessments, the first one by the Award's documents reviewer, then by the Award's assessment team, and the third level evaluations completed by an expert jury.

Mrs. Nancy Nouaimeh, ASQ Country Counselor-UAE, welcomed the Quality and Innovation community in the UAE to participate in the Awards and gain well-deserved recognition for their achievements. "The ASQ Awards were designed with clearly defined process and criteria, and were approved by the ASQ Board of Directors. Winners in the Quality Professional Award cycles in 2015 and 2016 were from different industry sectors including Dubai Police, and had revealed a wealth of knowledge and contribution to organisational Quality, internally and externally. In the 2017 cycle, up to three winners will be rewarded in each of the Awards two sub-categories.”

Comprising nearly 75,000 members from different part of the world, the 71-year-old ASQ primarily aims to make quality a global priority, an organisational imperative, and a personal ethic, while establishing itself as a community for everyone who seeks quality concepts, technology, or tools to improve themselves and their world. 

ASQ has over 700 individual members in the UAE in addition to organisations such as Abu Dhabi Housing Authority, RTA, Dubai Police, STC, Alain ZOO, Borouge, Jetex, and AMMROC. For more details about the ASQ awards, please write to [email protected] or visit www.asquae-award.org