Evaluation of Business Practices
EVALUATION CRITERIA*
The evaluation criteria cover the following themes with different participation percentage at the final result:
- Covering of a particular need
- Volunteerism and stakeholder engagement
- Duration & continuity of practice
- Relevance of the practice with the impact that a company has upon society and the environment.
- Impact upon the audience, the region or the particular topic that the practice is addressing.
- Link between the size of the company and the impact of the practice
- Originality and Innovation
- Way and Process of planning and implementation of practice
- Ability to reproduce the practice
| SMALL BUSINESSES | SMALL & MEDIUM SIZE BUSINESSES | MEDIUM SIZE BUSINESS | LARGE BUSINESSES | ||
CRITERIA |
PERCENTAGES |
||||
| 1 | Covering of a need | 10% | 10% | 15% | 15% |
| 2 | Volunteerism or/and stakeholder engagement | 10% | 10% | 5% | 5% |
| 3 | Duration & continuity of practice | 15% | 15% | 10% | 10% |
| 4 | Relevance of the practice with the impact that a company has upon society and the environment | 10% | 10% | 15% | 15% |
| 5 | Impact upon “the audience”, that the practice is addressing | 10% | 10% | 15% | 15% |
| 6 | Link between the size of the company and the impact of the practice | 20% | 20% | 10% | 10% |
| 7 | Originality and Innovation | 5% | 5% | 10% | 10% |
| 8 | Way and Process of planning and implementation of a practice | 5% | 5% | 15% | 15% |
| 9 | Ability to reproduce the practice | 15% | 15% | 5% | 5% |
MARKING SCALE
Every nominated practice is evaluated according to the criteria mentioned before and each criterion includes a marking scale from 0 to 4 which corresponds to the description below depending upon the level of application of each criterion.
0= no application of the criterion
1= partial application of the criterion
2= good application of the criterion
3= very good application of the criterion
4= excellent application of the criterion
EVALUATION PROCEDURE
Four main groups participate in the evaluation of business practices each having a different percentage of engagement:
Every nominated practice is evaluated according to the criteria mentioned before and each criterion includes a marking scale from 0 to 4 which corresponds to the description below depending upon the level of application of each criterion.
0= no application of the criterion
1= partial application of the criterion
2= good application of the criterion
3= very good application of the criterion
4= excellent application of the criterion
EVALUATION PROCEDURE
Four main groups participate in the evaluation of business practices each having a different percentage of engagement:
| Evaluation Committees for business practices | Percentage of participation in the final mark |
| Committee of Experts | 30% |
| Stakeholder Focus Group | 30% |
| Stakeholder Engagement Group | 30% |
| Active Citizens Group | 10% |
One must underline that each practice is not evaluated in comparison to other practices (ranking) but on its own according to the criteria and the marking scale put forward by the scientific committee of the Awards.
1. ACADEMIC COMMITTEE
The Academic Committee consists of Greek and foreign evaluators who have extended expertise and proven knowledge with regards to each of the five categories in which they are invited to participate (e.g. Bravo Governance, Environment, Society etc).
The members of the Committee of Experts will have access to the submitted practices through email without the ability to intervene on the submitted data. Every member of the Committee will have a deadline of one month (1) in order to evaluate the total of submitted practices for each Awards Category according to the aforementioned evaluation criteria by using a special evaluation form (see evaluation criteria, participation percentages and marking scale).
After the completion of their evaluation, for reasons of integrity and transparency, the evaluation form will be sent directly to QualityNet Foundation for data processing. Furthermore, an independent Auditing Company will undertake data sample checks to ensure the validity of the process. The QualityNet Foundation responsible for processing the results will not be able to intervene in the evaluation forms. The Auditing Company has no authority to intervene in the evaluation forms, as well.
The Committee of experts participates in the total evaluation with a percentage of 30%.
The Academic Committee consists of Greek and foreign evaluators who have extended expertise and proven knowledge with regards to each of the five categories in which they are invited to participate (e.g. Bravo Governance, Environment, Society etc).
The members of the Committee of Experts will have access to the submitted practices through email without the ability to intervene on the submitted data. Every member of the Committee will have a deadline of one month (1) in order to evaluate the total of submitted practices for each Awards Category according to the aforementioned evaluation criteria by using a special evaluation form (see evaluation criteria, participation percentages and marking scale).
After the completion of their evaluation, for reasons of integrity and transparency, the evaluation form will be sent directly to QualityNet Foundation for data processing. Furthermore, an independent Auditing Company will undertake data sample checks to ensure the validity of the process. The QualityNet Foundation responsible for processing the results will not be able to intervene in the evaluation forms. The Auditing Company has no authority to intervene in the evaluation forms, as well.
The Committee of experts participates in the total evaluation with a percentage of 30%.
2. STAKEHOLDERS GROUPS
1. Experts’ Focus Group
Five (5) stakeholders groups, one for each Awards category will be set up (e.g. BRAVO MARKET, BRAVO SOCIETY etc). Each group will be consisted of 5-7 members, expert representatives from different professional backgrounds according to their professional experience and training on the issues that are linked to each Award category. Each one of the five stakeholder focus groups is invited to evaluate the practices that are submitted in each category with the goal to focus on the particular demands, the criteria and the standards of each category.
The members of the Stakeholders Focus Groups will have access to the submitted practices through email or a special code for entering the system without the ability to intervene on the submitted data in order to read through and evaluate each practice that corresponds to each awards category before the organization of a focus group meeting with all the other participating stakeholders that belong to the same category.
Five focus groups of maximum two hours will be scheduled with the participation of relevant stakeholders for each awards category.
The aim for the organization of these focus groups is:
1. Experts’ Focus Group
Five (5) stakeholders groups, one for each Awards category will be set up (e.g. BRAVO MARKET, BRAVO SOCIETY etc). Each group will be consisted of 5-7 members, expert representatives from different professional backgrounds according to their professional experience and training on the issues that are linked to each Award category. Each one of the five stakeholder focus groups is invited to evaluate the practices that are submitted in each category with the goal to focus on the particular demands, the criteria and the standards of each category.
The members of the Stakeholders Focus Groups will have access to the submitted practices through email or a special code for entering the system without the ability to intervene on the submitted data in order to read through and evaluate each practice that corresponds to each awards category before the organization of a focus group meeting with all the other participating stakeholders that belong to the same category.
Five focus groups of maximum two hours will be scheduled with the participation of relevant stakeholders for each awards category.
The aim for the organization of these focus groups is:
- To bring stakeholders of each thematic group together in order to discuss their evaluations, particularly the main differences.
- To decide with the aid of the coordinator upon a common final marking for each practice.
For each of the five focus groups there will be a coordinator, representative of QualityNet Foundation who will be responsible for coordinating discussions as well as keeping good records of the entire procedure (e.g. a document that will include the final marks which have to be agreed upon by all members of the group by majority voting).
2. Stakeholder Engagement Group
With the goal to promote further the engagement of stakeholders and their continuous training on issues of Sustainable Development and Responsible Business, the evaluation of the nominated practices will be realized also by an extended group of social partners composed by representatives of the Businesses/Business Associations, Media, Civil Society Organizations/NGOs, Institutions, Local Authorities, Universities and Consumer Bodies.
Specifically, for each of the five awards categories (e.g. BRAVO Market, BRAVO Society) a mixed stakeholder group will be set up with representatives from different professional backgrounds having an expertise on issues of Sustainable Development so as to contribute to the evaluation of the practices with their general approach.
The stakeholders will receive through e-mail 8 practices (maximum) – 4 business practices and 4 practices submitted by local authorities and NGOs. As with the other groups, the members of the stakeholder engagement groups will have access to the submitted practices through email without the ability to intervene on the submitted data. Every member of the Committee will have the deadline of one month (1) in order to evaluate the total of submitted practices according to the aforementioned evaluation criteria by using a special evaluation form.
After the completion of their evaluation, for reasons of integrity and transparency, the evaluation form will be sent directly to the electronic address of an independent body (e.g. auditing company or other body) which will be responsible for gathering the results of the evaluation. These results will be then forwarded to either QualityNet Foundation or another independent organization for processing. The organization responsible for processing the results will not be able to intervene in the evaluation forms.
The Stakeholder Engagement Group participates in the total evaluation with a percentage of 30%.
The Committee of Experts and the Stakeholder Groups are consisted of representatives proposed by the Scientific Committee as well as by the associated partners, the companies which participate in the Sustainable Greece 2020 Initiative as “Sustainability Ambassadors” as well as all the companies that participate in the Bravo Initiative so as to maximize the level of engagement of all relevant parties and stakeholders in the Initiative.
QualityNet Foundation with an official decision from its Board has the responsibility of setting up the final nominations for all the evaluation committees, namely the Committee of experts as well as the Stakeholder Groups according to a long term practice which is implemented under the framework of the Bravo Initiative from the moment of its establishment.
The names and the professional titles of the stakeholders who will participate in the five focus groups will be announced during the final awards ceremony.
3. ACTIVE CITIZENS
At the final stage, there will be an electronic evaluation of the nominated practices which will be open on the internet for the general public and the active citizens from different backgrounds who are interested in participating online in the evaluation process. Technically, the employees of a company will not be allowed to vote for their own company practice or to vote more than once from the same electronic address. Active citizens’ participation in the procedure meets the need for raising awareness, mobilizing and educating the general public on Sustainable Development issues based on the philosophy of the QualityNet Foundation for an active participation of the society and its involvement in the Bravo Sustainability Awards.
The goal is to create a special online platform within the context of the existing platform of the Sustainable Greece 2020 Initiative thus using the existing technical mechanisms of QualityNet Foundation’s website which will be monitored by QualityNet Foundation’s representatives in cooperation with the independent organization/company that will be in charge of gathering results.
Every active citizen who is to participate in the online evaluation process has to evaluate one practice from each of the Award categories. Only by following this procedure, the active citizens’ evaluated practices will be validated.
The online evaluation process through electronic voting will be set at 10% of the final mark and the platform will be open for the public for two weeks.
Actions and initiatives that can be submitted
All actions and initiatives have been implemented in our country from 01/01/2015 to 31/10/2016. Every organization selects the thematic units that have been active by the class discrimination. Submit your initiatives until 30/11/2016.
2. Stakeholder Engagement Group
With the goal to promote further the engagement of stakeholders and their continuous training on issues of Sustainable Development and Responsible Business, the evaluation of the nominated practices will be realized also by an extended group of social partners composed by representatives of the Businesses/Business Associations, Media, Civil Society Organizations/NGOs, Institutions, Local Authorities, Universities and Consumer Bodies.
Specifically, for each of the five awards categories (e.g. BRAVO Market, BRAVO Society) a mixed stakeholder group will be set up with representatives from different professional backgrounds having an expertise on issues of Sustainable Development so as to contribute to the evaluation of the practices with their general approach.
The stakeholders will receive through e-mail 8 practices (maximum) – 4 business practices and 4 practices submitted by local authorities and NGOs. As with the other groups, the members of the stakeholder engagement groups will have access to the submitted practices through email without the ability to intervene on the submitted data. Every member of the Committee will have the deadline of one month (1) in order to evaluate the total of submitted practices according to the aforementioned evaluation criteria by using a special evaluation form.
After the completion of their evaluation, for reasons of integrity and transparency, the evaluation form will be sent directly to the electronic address of an independent body (e.g. auditing company or other body) which will be responsible for gathering the results of the evaluation. These results will be then forwarded to either QualityNet Foundation or another independent organization for processing. The organization responsible for processing the results will not be able to intervene in the evaluation forms.
The Stakeholder Engagement Group participates in the total evaluation with a percentage of 30%.
The Committee of Experts and the Stakeholder Groups are consisted of representatives proposed by the Scientific Committee as well as by the associated partners, the companies which participate in the Sustainable Greece 2020 Initiative as “Sustainability Ambassadors” as well as all the companies that participate in the Bravo Initiative so as to maximize the level of engagement of all relevant parties and stakeholders in the Initiative.
QualityNet Foundation with an official decision from its Board has the responsibility of setting up the final nominations for all the evaluation committees, namely the Committee of experts as well as the Stakeholder Groups according to a long term practice which is implemented under the framework of the Bravo Initiative from the moment of its establishment.
The names and the professional titles of the stakeholders who will participate in the five focus groups will be announced during the final awards ceremony.
3. ACTIVE CITIZENS
At the final stage, there will be an electronic evaluation of the nominated practices which will be open on the internet for the general public and the active citizens from different backgrounds who are interested in participating online in the evaluation process. Technically, the employees of a company will not be allowed to vote for their own company practice or to vote more than once from the same electronic address. Active citizens’ participation in the procedure meets the need for raising awareness, mobilizing and educating the general public on Sustainable Development issues based on the philosophy of the QualityNet Foundation for an active participation of the society and its involvement in the Bravo Sustainability Awards.
The goal is to create a special online platform within the context of the existing platform of the Sustainable Greece 2020 Initiative thus using the existing technical mechanisms of QualityNet Foundation’s website which will be monitored by QualityNet Foundation’s representatives in cooperation with the independent organization/company that will be in charge of gathering results.
Every active citizen who is to participate in the online evaluation process has to evaluate one practice from each of the Award categories. Only by following this procedure, the active citizens’ evaluated practices will be validated.
The online evaluation process through electronic voting will be set at 10% of the final mark and the platform will be open for the public for two weeks.
Actions and initiatives that can be submitted
All actions and initiatives have been implemented in our country from 01/01/2015 to 31/10/2016. Every organization selects the thematic units that have been active by the class discrimination. Submit your initiatives until 30/11/2016.
BRAVO SUSTAINABILITY AWARDS
This year, 3 Awards will be given per Award category. In order for an Award to be given for a practice:
a) 3 good practices (minimum) must be submitted per Award to the relevant Category
b) The practice has to be evaluated with at least the 50% of the total score.
More details about the Awards:
- 1 to 5 submitted practices- 1 Award can be given
- 6 to 8 submitted practices - 2 Awards can be given
- For more than 9 practices submitted- 3 Awards can be given
In case of equivalence, the companies will share the Award.
Compilation of the results
The QualityNet Foundation will compile the results together with the Auditing Company according to the procedure described and under the supervision of the Scientific Committee.
Compilation of the results
The QualityNet Foundation will compile the results together with the Auditing Company according to the procedure described and under the supervision of the Scientific Committee.
| The members of the Scientific Committee are not able to participate, directly or indirectly, in any stage of the evaluation process ensuring the integrity of the Awards, either for the business practices or the practices of the Local Authorities and the NGOs. The members of the Scientific Committee participate in the entire project voluntarily. |
* EXPLANATION OF CRITERIA
- Covering of a particular need
This criterion examines whether and to what extent the practice covers a recognized social, environmental, economic, etc need.
- Volunteerism and stakeholder engagement
This criterion examines how many of the Organization’s employees participate in the design or the implementation of the practice and how many of them are involved in it. In addition, this criterion examines whether and to what extent the practice encourages the volunteerism of the Organization’s employees or promotes the volunteerism of the wider community.
- Duration & continuity of practice
This criterion examines if a specific practice/action is implemented for the first time or it is a practice/action that launched in the past and continues up to date. Moreover, the criterion examines the continuity of the practice in the future and the possibility of being repeated regularly.
- Relevance of the practice with the impact that a company has upon society and the environment
This criterion examines to what extent a practice is related to the operation of a company (core business) and, specifically, the relevance of the practice with the impact that a company has upon society and the environment.
- Impact upon the audience, the region or the particular topic that the practice is addressing
This criterion examines the impact a practice may have on its target audience. For example, on a specific geographical area where it takes place/influences or towards the community that is affected by the practice. Furthermore, the criterion examines whether and to what extent a practice responds sufficiently to the special issue it aspires to fulfill/cover/meet.
- Link between the size of the company and the impact of the practice
The impact and the effects of a practice/action should be evaluated with regard to the size and the capabilities of a company (capacities & resources).
- Originality and Innovation
This criterion examines whether and to what extent a practice contains elements of innovation and originality that distinguish it from other similar practices.
- Way and Process of planning and implementation of practice
This criterion examines how comprehensive and coherent a practice is, concerning its way and process of planning/implementing, as well as of monitoring/evaluating its results.
- Ability to reproduce the practice
This criterion examines whether and to what extent a practice can serve as an “example to be followed” and inspire other organizations, companies or its target audience, creating new trends and becoming the platform for planning new actions.