Discussion: View Thread

>Dear Users,
>
>I am searching for the concept of Key Success Factors, How it can be defind, wh
>o created this concept and so on. If there are any referances on this concept,
>all will be appreciated. Thanks in advanced.
>
>M.Al-Awadh
>Businesa Admi. Dept.
>King Saud Univ.
>Saudi Arabia
>Fax 966 14674216
Sounds like Critical Success Factors, which have been around since the 50s.
a CSF = 'something which _must_ go right for the mission to be achieved', a
result-state not an activity
Tom Wheeler

Dear Users,

I am searching for the concept of Key Success Factors, How it can be defind, wh
o created this concept and so on. If there are any referances on this concept,
all will be appreciated. Thanks in advanced.

M.Al-Awadh
Businesa Admi. Dept.
King Saud Univ.
Saudi Arabia
Fax 966 14674216

At 10:41 PM 11/15/97 SLT, you wrote:
>Dear Users,
>
>I am searching for the concept of Key Success Factors, How it can be
defind, wh
>o created this concept and so on. If there are any referances on this
concept,
>all will be appreciated. Thanks in advanced.
>
>M.Al-Awadh
>Businesa Admi. Dept.
>King Saud Univ.
>Saudi Arabia
>Fax 966 14674216
>
I am not sure who "created" the concept of key/critical success factors.
However, you can see what they mean and how they are used in the context of
quality management by visiting the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award
criteria (http://www.quality.nist.gov/) and downloading the criteria, the
core values and concepts, and the explanation of the criteria.

Key/critical success factors are merely those few factors on which the
company's success depend. The value of identifying them is to then develop
measures for them and track progress against goals derived from comparative
information so that reaching the goals is likely to ensure competitive
success. If these are key success factors, then their measures should
define to the rest of the organization why and how the organization must
ensure achievement of the goals.

Another reference that we find invaluable and is readily integrated with
the Baldrige criteria is Kaplan and Norton's _The Balanced Scorecard_ by
the Harvard Business Press.

*********************************************************
Kicab Castaneda-Mendez
aejes, LLC
84 Old South Salem Road
Ridgefield, CT 06877-4841
Tel 800-291-2974
Fax 203-894-9020
E-mail kicab@aejes.com
Web Site http://www.aejes.com

Author of:
1. _Value-Based Cost Management for Healthcare: Linking Costs to Quality
Delivery_
2. _The Baldrige Assessor's Workbook: How to Perform the Examiner's Role
for Internal and External Assessment_ (Both books available from Quality
Resource, New York, 800-247-8519: http://www.qualityresources.com)

aejes, LLC offers services in three areas:
- Strategic Planning, using the balanced scorecard
- Improving Performance, using value-based cost
management
- Self-Assessment, using the Baldrige Criteria.

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I am quite familiar with "Success Factors" which are criteria for hiring for
a job. Is this what your reference is to?

Andrea

Andrea Sigetich Affiliates
Organization Coaching for magnificent management and team development
Personal Coaching for amazing individual results
OrgCoach@aol.com

M.Al-Awadh, you are looking for references on KSFs. I read a good book some
time ago that sticks strongly in my mind. It contains an extensive
description of KSFs that I have used over and over. It is called The Mind of
The Strategist. I think the author is Japanese, but I cannot think of it. If
you cannot find the book by title alone, please eMail me back and I will find
out. Good luck. I found the concept invaluable. He dsecribes what they are
not, too.
Barbara Golden

M.Al-Awadh, Barbara,
the author of The Mind of the Strategist is Kenich Ohmae (ex director of
McKinsey's Japan office). One of the best books on strategic thinking, by
the way.

Roland

>M.Al-Awadh, you are looking for references on KSFs. I read a good book some
>time ago that sticks strongly in my mind. It contains an extensive
>description of KSFs that I have used over and over. It is called The Mind of
>The Strategist. I think the author is Japanese, but I cannot think of it. If
>you cannot find the book by title alone, please eMail me back and I will find
>out. Good luck. I found the concept invaluable. He dsecribes what they are
>not, too.
>Barbara Golden

========================
Roland Deiser
Visiting Professor
Marshall School of Business
University of Southern California

Change Associates
Consulting Group

Private Office:
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Los Angeles, CA 90077
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