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2010-02-18    Training course: Quality Management in Humanitarian Action (Quality COMPAS & Dynamic COMPAS) (Plaisians en Provence, 14 to 18 June 2010)
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2010-02-17    Training course
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2009-10-16    Training of Trainers course on “Quality Management for Humanitarian Projects” in Madrid on 2-6 November 2009
Quality management is now recognised to be an essential skil...
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Dynamic COMPAS
Quality Assurance software for humanitarian projects
Using the Dynamic COMPAS

The Dynamic COMPAS® is a simple, user-friendly software programme which is made available to organisations free of charge.
However, using the programme alone will not make a significant difference to the quality of a project. For the Dynamic COMPAS® to be fully effective it should be used as part of a global quality assurance approach. Adopting the Dynamic COMPAS therefore implies a degree of commitment at institutional level, and training for both the users and the decision-makers within the organisation.

Use and impact of the Dynamic COMPAS®:

Individual use:
The software is used by individuals. Used in this way, the whole team is not necessarily required to reflect on quality issues. Its impact is therefore limited to the capacity of the individual user, in so far as they understand the method, they use it systematically, and that this may influence the decisions taken throughout the project (if, for example, the user is the project manager). Such a use is more a means of ‘trying out’ the programme rather than an optimal application of a quality approach. If used in this way without an accompanying team-wide strategy, the Dynamic COMPAS will obviously have less impact on the quality of the project.


Collective use by the project team:
The programme is used by a project team, or by a certain members of the team (for example, the project leader and those in charge of the main project components), to record and document the experiences and team reflection. Used in this way, the Dynamic COMPAS® is a tool which provides a common quality assurance method for all members of a project team. Such a use is closer to a quality assurance approach at project level. It allows users to adopt a preventive approach during project implementation, to ensure that project results are fully and systemically documented, and to generate the data necessary for reports.

Institutional use:
Quality is an integral part of an organisation’s operating strategy, and consequently the Dynamic COMPAS® is adopted for a set of projects or for all its projects. Teams which systematically use the Dynamic COMPAS in the management of projects can exchange opinions on a given subject and can consult records of previous projects implemented by the organisation. A database is thus created allowing users to download and exchange information. Used in this way, the software facilitates communication between project teams with different responsibilities, working in different regions and sectors. The results of this integrated approach can significantly improve the quality of the organisation’s interventions.
 
Updated  12-03-2010