DCCI to implement Balanced Scorecard System in 2007

The workshop, which was held at the Dubai Sheraton Creek Hotel, was delivered by Dr. Okan Geray, Strategic Planning Consultant at the Dubai e-Government, under the title 'Balanced Scorecard: Principles, case Studies and Implementation Issues'.

Mr. Abdul Rahman Ghanem Al Mutaiwee, Director General of the DCCI, said that the main objective of the workshop lies in the Chamber's initiative to improve and upgrade the performance of its departments and the quality services they provide to ensure a better integration among the Chamber's divisions, as well as facilitate the execution of all types of commercial transactions handled by the DCCI.

"The DCCI is planning to implement the new system of Balanced Scorecard at its departments by year 2007, and the program is the first step to align the DCCI's vision with the human and capital resources and with the day-to-day operations," said Al Mutaiwee.

He pointed out that the workshop is yet another relevant initiative that the DCCI has generated to enhance its performance in a way that copes with the Chamber's mission and vision to play as a much-needed source of commercial information and services to be provided to the business community in Dubai, and the most effective authority in the emirate that provides value added services which ensure competitiveness of the Dubai-based businesses.

"The new program would help the Dubai Chamber be more qualified to generate commitment among its management team, as the implementation of this system would help create an effective performance environment aiming to move our services to a higher and more efficient level of quality that copes with the principles of the e-Government system in Dubai," Al Mutaiwee added.

Dr. Okan Geray, Strategic Planning Consultant in Dubai e-Government and the lecturer who conducted the workshop, pointed out that the new Balanced Scorecard program would be the strategic performance management system in the whole Chamber.

"The new system is a communication tool to make the Chamber's strategy clear to everyone. It is yet a way to balance financial and non-financial views of the organization's performance and a system that is made to increase the accountability and the commitment to change," said Dr. Geray.

He said that the management of the organization could face a number of challenges in regard with the implementation of the new system like how managers could bridge the gap between their company's potential and the actual value creation level.

He also stressed that the Balanced Scorecard system is a continuous process for tracking and monitoring strategy execution in four main areas that include creating and linking, clarifying and translating the vision and strategy, planning and target setting and the strategic feedback and learning.

"There are four major barriers to strategy execution in today's organization that include the vision barrier, people's barrier, management barrier and resource barrier, and they will all form the key performance indicators," Dr. Geray added.

He pointed out that the Balanced Scorecard aims to translate the strategy into potential terms, mobilize change through strong and effective leadership, make strategy a continual process and make strategy everyone's job.

Mr. Salem Al Shair, e-Services Director of the Dubai e-Government, said "It is our pleasure to share knowledge and experience with the government departments in Dubai. We are pleased to contribute to His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the UAE Vice president, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai's vision of Dubai e-Government to play the role of the House of Expertise (Bayt Al Khebra) for the benefit of all departments."

He added that Dubai's lively work environment, where knowledge has become pivotal for advancement and achievement, is essential for government departments to share and exchange the best practices and knowledge to serve the overall goals of the government."