The policy voice of the CQI

The last Corporate Connect event of 2018 was delivered as a live webinar from the CQI’s headquarters in London on 4 December. The main purpose of the event was to share the work of the CQI’s policy department and to also explore how corporate partners can get involved in supporting organisational governance, assurance and improvement. 

The broadcast was led by Estelle Clark, CQP FCQI, Executive Director of Policy at the CQI, who explored the responsibilities of the CQI’s policy department, which includes leading the profession, leveraging partnerships, and speaking on behalf of the CQI’s 20,000 members.

Clark joined the CQI as Executive Director of Policy in March 2017 to ensure the Institute is the leading voice on governance, assurance and improvement. She explained: “The policy directorate is responsible for thought leadership of the organisation, for developing and deploying plans to influence key stakeholders in line with the CQI’s strategy. Key stakeholders in this instance include other membership bodies, other professional institutes and broadly other organisations whose activities align with ours. 

“The policy directorate also provides technical approval of changes to membership standards, learning and development content and other technical content, and effectively acts as the head of profession in terms of the standards we set for quality professionals globally. The fourth aspect that was mentioned at the time the policy unit was established, was managing the standards panel.”

The policy department’s objectives translate into six operational activities. The first of these looks at what quality professionals need to know, do and how they behave. This involves guarding the CQI’s Competency Framework to ensure it has integrity and is beneficial to quality professionals. The department also provides sign-off for technical changes to learning and development at the CQI, asking whether the evaluation process for fellowship is still appropriate, and providing support for apprenticeships. 

The policy directorate is responsible for thought leadership of the organisation

In addition to the above, the department also supports the standards most important to CQI and IRCA members. The CQI has a standards panel to drive forward the CQI and IRCA's contribution to the evolution of domestic and international standards. Clark said: “CQI representatives attend national and international technical committee meetings for the development of ISO and British standards. We comment on various amendments to the standards, and when anything gets to a position where we can consult, we give our members the opportunity to put forward their views.”

Listeners were also reminded of the policy department’s involvement in the latest research and reports from the CQI, and the professional body’s plans to continue to lead in this area in 2019. For example, the policy department will be looking at what quality professionals need to know about Quality 4.0. Listeners were called on to provide their feedback and help the CQI to promote its reports.

Clark also explained how the CQI works with its associate partners, which include the British Standards Institution (BSI) and the Institute of Directors (IoD). Clark told listeners that the policy department will continuously review the professional body’s existing partnerships and new opportunities. “We have associate partners who are providing input into our monthly magazine Quality World, who are running masterclasses, judging our awards, but equally we are providing input into other magazines, and insight into research projects for example,” Clark added.

Listeners were also informed of the policy department’s involvement in the annual International Quality Awards. Policy selects categories, develops marking schemas, picks judges, interviews finalists, and provides consensus on both finalists and winners.

Clark also expressed how policy comments on current affairs through its associate partners, its reports, and through various media outlets including City AM, the Telegraph, the Financial Times and The Independent. The policy department, Clark said, will only comment with a purpose by explaining how a situation could have been avoided using quality tools.

Finally, Clark reminded listeners that 2019 marks the CQI’s 100th year. Corporate partners will be provided collateral to help celebrate the milestone with the CQI.

For more information or if you'd like to provide feedback on Policy at the CQI, email Alexander Woods at [email protected].