DCT ABU DHABI

EXCELLENCE & INNOVATION

AWARDS
APPLICANT’S GUIDELINES
5th Edition

September 2022
Agenda

• Leadership Directions

• DCT Excellence & Innovation Award Objectives

• Award's Structure 2022- Sectors/ affiliated entities

• Award's Structure 2022- Individuals

• Important dates & approach

Leadership Directions

HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan

It has become a necessity to greatly focus on boosting capabilities in order to
maintain the achievements and move forward on the path of development. For this
purpose, many policies, strategies and initiatives that guarantee the realization of our
leadership`s vision for the future of our country have been set. Hence, Excellence
Internal Award has been introduced to instill the culture of excellence and
administrative thinking development on both procedural and practical levels in order
to give a single identity, under the title of efficiency and excellence. We at Abu Dhabi
Government, are seeking to make a quantum leap in corporate performance – through
this Award – by working on employee capability development, qualification and
training as well as tak­ing advantage of the best local, regional and international
practices. International experiences have proven that the availability of national
awards for excellence stimulates the efforts and encourage a positive competitive
environment among the government entities, which would be reflected on the
performance development and enhancement in general.
Leadership Directions

HH Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak

At the Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi), we strongly
believe that excellence is a culture and a conviction that shapes practices and generates
the determination for constant development. Excellence is a clear goal and mindset that
can be pursued by uniting efforts and taking the initiative.
In line with the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan,
Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces,
we are proud to announce the launch of DCT Abu Dhabi’s Excellence & Innovation
Award.
We aim through this Award to encourage employees and sectors to boost
competiveness, improve working practice, support internal cooperation, and excel at
performance. By instilling a culture of excellence in the workplace, we seek to raise
awareness of the importance of quality and transparency as part of our daily
organizational ethos. Ultimately, excellence is not just an aspect of the quality of work,
but a way of life that reflects singularity and preeminence in all aspects.
Leadership Directions

HE Saood Abdulaziz Al Hosani

Excellence is one of the cornerstones of the Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu
Dhabi. We strive to uphold the highest standards of excellence across every initiative,
activity and service. We also focus on instilling a culture of excellence and drive its
implementation in our daily lives, to develop the Department, enhance performance,
adopt world-class practices and promote customer satisfaction. In order to succeed in
achieving these targets, we must all work as one, exchange experience and identify
and overcome the challenges that we might face, whilst staying focused on
coordinating and maximizing our efforts and supporting innovative initiatives. In line
with the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the UAE
President, DCT Abu Dhabi is proud to announce the launch of its fifth Internal
Excellence Awards, an award which complements the Abu Dhabi Award for
Excellence in Government Performance (ADAEP). The award’s aim is to encourage
employees and departments to raise their performance, boost competitiveness,
improve working mechanisms, support internal cooperation and raise awareness on
the importance of excellence, quality and transparency as part of our daily
organizational ethos.
DCT Abu Dhabi Excellence & Innovation Award Objectives

The DCT Excellence & Innovation award aim is to promote the excellence practices at DCT and its affiliated entities. The award will plays an
important role in boosting competitiveness, improve working mechanisms, support internal cooperation and raise awareness on the importance
of excellence as part of our daily organizational ethos.

Objectives

COMPETITIVENESS WORLD-CLASS KNOWLEDGE SHARING BEST PRACTICES GOVERNMENT

EXCELLENCE

Create a culture of Motivate DCT entities Promote the culture of Motivate DCT entities Promote the culture of
competitiveness to achieve world class excellence of to achieve world class excellence of
among sectors, results through the knowledge sharing results through the knowledge sharing
departments and adoption of various and lessons learned adoption of various and lessons learned
individuals in order to excellence models cross sectors and excellence models cross sectors and
innovate and achieve among individuals among individuals
distinguished results
The Sectors/Affiliated Entities Category
Award
 Sector Category Award
Best Sector in Strategy
Execution and Performance

The Sectors Awards is designed to increase Sectors competitiveness,

raise performance and recognize Sectors achievements and practices
to ensure DCT and its affiliated entities are adopting world class
practices. In addition, it is an Internal mechanism to review and
continuously improve the Internal processes and benchmarking
against International standards to reach the best performance and
results which will better prepare DCT and Affiliated entities for Abu
Dhabi Awards in Governmental Performance Program.

Cycle 5 will include the following Sectors and affiliated entities:

Best Sector in Risk Best Sector in Employees • Tourism Sector
Management and Business Wellness and
Continuity Distinguished Sector Development • Culture Sector
of the Year
• Marketing Sector
• Support Services Sector
• Arabic Learning Centre
• Louvre Abu Dhabi
• Abu Dhabi Events
• Creative Media Authority
Best Sector in Internal Best Sector in Financial • Al Ain Zoo
Improvement Management
 Sector Category Award
Best Sector in Strategy
Execution and Performance

The Sectors Awards is designed to increase Sectors competitiveness,

raise performance and recognize Sectors achievements and practices
to ensure DCT and its affiliated entities are adopting world class
practices. In addition, it is an Internal mechanism to review and
continuously improve the Internal processes and benchmarking
against International standards to reach the best performance and
results which will better prepare DCT and Affiliated entities for Abu
Dhabi Awards in Governmental Performance Program.

Cycle 5 will include the following Sectors and affiliated entities:

Best Sector in Risk Best Sector in Employees • Tourism Sector
Management and Business Wellness and
Continuity Distinguished Sector Development • Culture Sector
of the Year
• Marketing Sector
• Support Services Sector
• Arabic Learning Centre
• Louvre Abu Dhabi
• Abu Dhabi Events
• Creative Media Authority
Best Sector in Internal Best Sector in Financial • Al Ain Zoo
Improvement Management
Individuals Category Award
Sector Category Award
The Individuals Awards is designed to encourage, recognize and reward Distinguished DCT Human
Resources and build an infrastructure for them to adopt international best practices, improve skills
and raise competencies and capabilities in a continuous manner. In addition, it is one of the
qualifying stages to compete for the Abu Dhabi Awards in Governmental Performance Program
Performance and Initiative and
Achievements Innovation

Customer Living
Department The
Happiness
Director (Supervisor) Values

Executive Innovative Diamond

Director Employee Employee

Customer
Section Field
Happiness
Head (Non - Supervisory) Work Individuals
Model

Specialist Dedicated
Employee Long
Service
Unit New
Head Employee
Supervisory Continuous
Skills Learning
Technical/ Admin
Technological Support

Categories Legend

Supervisory Roles Customer Happiness HR Award

Specialised Category Conditional Category
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Individual Awards Categories and Conditions
01
Catergory
Executive Director
Dedicated to executive officers who made
a visible and outstanding contribution that
made a difference in their entities or
communities
Admin Supervision
(Director, Section, Manager, Unit Head)
Dedicated to employees holding roles
related to the admin supervision at various
levels (department manager, section head,
team leader…etc.).
Customer Happiness
(Supervisory)
Dedicated to employees whose work
involves supervision of service delivery
centres or points, e.g. director of the
customer happiness centre, customer
happiness supervisor.
Leadership/Supervisory Group DCT Excellence & Innovation Award 5th Cycle
Conditions
Performance and Initiative and
Achievements Criteria Innovation
• Nominee for the Executive Director
• Category shall be holding an executive officer position or equivalent.
• Holding an executive officer position or (deputy) for at least one year and a
half.
• Holding a supervisory role for at least five years.
• Nominee holding a supervisory position, with its various titles (Director,
Section Manager, Unit Head)
• Worked in a supervisory position for at least two years and a half.
• Nominee to oversee at least 2 employees in his organizational unit.
• Supervisors may participate (if being in deputy positions) as long as other
conditions of participation are satisfied thereby.
• Holding a supervisory position other than director general or executive
officer. Supervisory Continuous
• Holding a supervisory position, regardless of Job title variances within the Skills Learning
entity.
• Experience in the supervisory role for at least two years and a half.
• Customer service experience for at least two years and a half.
• Supervision of at least two employees
The supervisory employee may participate if holding deputy (such as
•
Deputy
• Director General) as long as other participation conditions are satisfied
thereby.
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Individual Awards Categories and Conditions
02 Technical/Specialized and Support Group
Catergory
Admin Support Employee
Admin support employee works as an
admin or clerk at the entity with no
leadership or supervisory duties (e.g.
admin employee, admin assistant,
personnel officer, procurement officer,
storekeeper, etc..).
Specialist Employee
Dedicated to employees holding
professional specialised or consultancy
positions and the titles falling under this
category (including but not limited to
expert, specialist, researcher, editor,
translator, auditor, etc
Technical/Technological Employee
The technical/technological employee
practices technical/technological skills in
any field, e.g. science, engineering, IT,
engineers, software analysts
DCT Excellence & Innovation Award 5th Cycle
Conditions
Performance and Initiative and
Achievements Criteria Innovation
• Participation is limited to admin support employees who do not fall into any
other category (supervisory, specialist, technical, customer service…etc.).
• The nominee should be working in a specialised field e.g. doctors, internal
auditors, accountants, lawyers, statisticians, ...etc.
• Holding a specialised/ academic qualification.
• Supervisors may participate in the awards of the specialised field where the
fourth criteria (supervisory skills) will not be applicable.
• The nominee must work at least two years and a half in the field of
specialisation.
Supervisory Continuous
• Working in a technical/technological field (engineers, lab technicians, IT Skills Learning
personnel, etc.)
• Holding specialised/ academic qualification.
• The holding of supervisory roles may participate in the
technical/technological group. In this case, the fourth criteria (Supervisory
skills) will not apply.
• Applicant must have worked at least two years and a half in the field.
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Individual Awards Categories and Conditions
02 Technical/Specialized and Support Group DCT Excellence & Innovation Award 5th Cycle

Catergory Conditions
Performance and Initiative and
Achievements Criteria Innovation
Field Work Employee

Dedicated to employees at entities whose
work requires field (non office ) work,
Examples including without limited to
supervisors, inspectors, tour guides,
surveyors.
• Employees carrying out field (off office) work (at least 75% of their work is
field work)
• Participation in the field employees’ category is limited only to employees
with no supervisory roles.

Customer Happiness Employee

(Non-Supervisory)

Dedicated to employees whose work
involves supervision of service delivery
centres or points, e.g. director of the
customer happiness centre, customer
happiness supervisor
• The nominee must have at least two years and a half experience in the
customer service area.
• Customer service employee must be fully acquainted with and implement
the Abu Dhabi Government Customer Service guidance.

New Joiner
For fresh graduate employees at Abu Dhabi
government entities, provided that they
complete an employment period no less
then six months and not above two years
and a half (from date of employment until
the nomination for the medal by the entity).
Supervisory Continuous
Skills Learning
• Young employee joining the workforce for the first-time following
graduation with a university qualification (Bachelor and above).
• Employee previously worked for (a government or private) employer may
participate, provided that total work experience of two years and a half
(proof must be provided)

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Individual Awards Categories and Conditions
03
Catergory
Scientific Research
Encouraging employees and promoting
their knowledge; invest in capabilities to
support work development, knowledge
management and research publications that
reflect a learning and innovative
organisation.
Dedicated long-serving employee
For employees with more than twenty
years of employment at different levels in
Abu Dhabi government entities and still in
service
Innovative Employee
A medal dedicated to distinguished
employees who provided innovations or
inventions registered in their names that
helped increase efficiency and
effectiveness of entity’s performance
Other Group DCT Excellence & Innovation Award 5th Cycle
Conditions
Performance and Initiative and
Achievements Criteria Innovation
• All employees from all job level categories (supervisory & Non-
Supervisory) positions can apply for this award.
• Candidate must not be holding a general manager or executive officer
position.
• At least 20 years of employment in Abu Dhabi Emirate local government
entities provided that he/ she spent at least two years and a half in the entity
through which the application submitted.
• Must be on the job to the announcement of results.
• Must provide an evidence of his/ her service in Abu Dhabi Emirate local
government for the required period.
Supervisory Continuous
Skills Learning
• This award is dedicated to distinguished employees who provided
innovations or inventions registered in their names that helped increase
efficiency and effectiveness of performance or have a positive impact on the
community. No specific title or rank is required.
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Individual Awards Categories and Conditions
03 Other Group DCT Excellence & Innovation Award 5th Cycle

Catergory
Living the Values Award
Dedicated to employees at who have
shown extraordinary adoption of the values
in a work-related situation & behaviour
Conditions
Performance and Initiative and
Achievements Criteria Innovation
• Nominee must be a DCT Abu Dhabi employee for more than 2 years
• ED or Managers can nominate more than one employee
• Employee can nominate himself
• Nominees must have shown extraordinary adoption most of the values in a
work-related situation
• Nominee should have a clean record with no penalties
• Nominee Performance exemplifies the Core values.

Diamond Employee
• Employees that won in the previous cycle and willing to participate in the
5th edition of the Internal awards
Dedicated to Employees who won in the
Previous Cycle, this is to ensure equality • The Assessment will include the Individuals Excellence model, as well the
and fair competitiveness between participant improvement plan based on the feedback report provided
employees

Supervisory Continuous
Skills Learning

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Participation Terms

The participation in DCT Excellence & Innovation Award – 5th Edition is available for all high performance employees in
1 each department (Scored 3 & 4 and above in the performance appraisal) and completed 2.5 years in his/her current
position.

2 All the participants in the individuals categories must be assigned within organisational structure.

3 Candidates who participated in the previous cycle will be evaluated based on their achievements in 2021-2022 in addition
to their achievements in previous years.

4 Nominee’s job title must be parallel to the award’s category nominated for.

5 Nominee’s employment record not included of any disciplinary actions (warning, notice, etc.) in the last three years of
employment and until the announcement of results.

6 All the participants who don’t meet the award requirements and passing the cut-off score (70 out of 100) won’t be
shortlisted, and no interviews will be conducted for them.
Criteria
1 First Criterion: Performance & Achievement DCT Excellence & Innovation Award 5th Cycle

The sub-criteria assess the individuals & measure the size and nature of the Individual performance results, behavior,
Personal effort and achievements that go beyond the objectives assigned to the employee in this part achievement & Performance and Initiative and
performance are being reviewed in lights of the points referenced below: Achievements Criteria Innovation

Sub-Criteria

1 Indicate a situation where you were subject to a sudden change in work priorities. What happened? How did you
manage? What were the outcomes?

Indicate situations where you performed work, unrelated to your mainstream job duties, to generate financial savings for
2 DCT, participate in extracurricular activities, conferences, forums, and meetings, or working outside business hours,
creating a positive work culture, or managing risks from change resistance.

3 What were your previous job experiences and what were the main qualitative & quantitative results achieved?

4 What are your main qualifications and values that portray your expectational commitment, both at work and to serve
customers? Please give examples in multiple and various situations at DCT.

5 Give examples of times you have participated in voluntary activities at DCT, and personally, outside the realm of your
work. What were the results? Do you encourage others to the same? How?
Supervisory
Skills
Continuous
Learning

6 Give examples of different times you have faced great difficulties and how you used your skills in change management,
innovation, and project management to overcome them. What were the resultant outcomes?

Describe multiple instances to when and how your personal efforts contributed to fulfilling achievements compared to
7 colleagues. What was your role? What did you do? How did you motivate your colleagues? What were the overall
results?

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Criteria
2 Second Criterion: Initiative & Innovation DCT Excellence & Innovation Award 5th Cycle

The sub-criteria assess the individuals & measure the size and nature of the Individual performance results, behavior,
Personal effort and achievements that go beyond the objectives assigned to the employee in this part achievement & Performance and Initiative and
performance are being reviewed in lights of the points referenced below: Achievements Criteria Innovation

Sub-Criteria

How often do you submit creative and pioneer initiatives? How many? Describe the most prominent ones. Did you
1 manage to convince the management on their applicability? If so, how? What were the outcomes? How did they lead to
improvements in work and reduction in costs?

2 Describe the patents, publications, and/or projects registered under your name. What was creative and innovative about
them? (If you do not have any registered under your name, describe pending work or anticipated ones.)

3 How many of your creative ideas and innovative initiatives have been implemented? How were they implemented? How
would you encourage others to adopt them?

What was the impact of applying the innovations and initiatives? Did they manage to solve any existing problems within
4 the field covered by the initiative? How? Describe how they lead to improvements and achievements of positive results.
How were the results measured?

5 Do you initiate workshops, meetings, conferences, lectures, and/or ideation sessions to share knowledge? Do you store
your information and ideas so that they can be easily shared? Describe your contributions and what was achieved.
Supervisory Continuous
Describe researches that you have done that included innovation and creativity. How do they relate to the enhancement Skills Learning
6 of the cultural/ tourism sectors of Abu Dhabi or how do they relate to the enhancement of the field of work the research
was done about? What were the anticipated results of the information concluded?

7 The added value of scientific research includes creativity or innovation for one of the important areas of work related to
the cultural and tourism sector in the emirate

8 Results and effects of studies and research applied

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Criteria
3 Third Criterion: Continuous Learning DCT Excellence & Innovation Award 5th Cycle

The sub-criteria assess the individuals & measure the self-development. in this part language, communication and
specialized technical or managerial skills are being reviewed in lights of the points referenced below: Performance and Initiative and
Achievements Criteria Innovation

Sub-Criteria

Do you actively participate in enhancing skills related to your field work such as workshops, certificates, trainings, etc.?
1 Describe briefly the most prominent ones. What did you learn and what did you achieve as a result?

Do you actively participate in enhancing skills that would help you achieve better results in your general work, such as
2 trainings on using the computer & internet, developing language skills, abilities in the communication field? How and to
what extent did you apply them?

Are you currently pursuing your post-graduate studies (Masters Degree and/or PhD)? If you have you already obtained
3 it, how do you keep yourself up to date? How does this fit within your role at DCT?

How often do you engage in published research and studies? What do you do to increase your development capacity with
4 regards to that?

What recent tools have you learned? What were the results? What actions have you taken to ensure you constantly adopt
5 new tools to enhance your efficiency? Are you enrolled in any tools trainings or workshops? Do you share the
knowledge of these tools with your colleagues?
Supervisory Continuous
Skills Learning

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Criteria
4 Forth Criterion: Supervisory Skills DCT Excellence & Innovation Award 5th Cycle

The sub-criteria assess the individuals & measure the leadership skills. in this part Effectively communicate with their
team and ability to manage change are being reviewed in lights of the points referenced below: Performance and Initiative and
Achievements Criteria Innovation

Sub-Criteria

Do you have a definite, clear, and consistent vision and mission? How do you make sure your team follows it? In what
1 ways do you align your strategy with DCT’s strategic plan?

How do you ensure the optimal use of resources? Do you provide your employees with any training? Do you implement
2 any tools to measure their efficiencies? What were the quantitative and qualitative outcomes for DCT’s objectives ?

How frequently do you assess your employees? How do you do so? Do you have any reliable methods in measuring their
3 performance? How do you motivate and encourage them? What appropriate decisions have you taken to ensure the
follow up of the team’s achievements?

Quantitatively indicate the most important KPIs and targets achieved by the organizational unit you supervise, along with
4 their implications on DCT.

Supervisory Continuous
How do you directly support in the development of DCT’s strategy? Do you participate in workshops to do so? Do you Skills Learning
5 convey any remarks/comments to the concerned parties regarding your opinion? Do you set the objectives of your team
and amend them based on the strategy of DCT? Do you ensure that your team is fully aware of DCT’s strategy?

6 How do you motivate and encourage your team to be innovative? Do you take their ideas into account? Give examples.
What initiatives do you have to support fostering a culture of team creativity?

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Criteria
4 Forth Criterion: Supervisory Skills DCT Excellence & Innovation Award 5th Cycle

The sub-criteria assess the individuals & measure the leadership skills. in this part Effectively communicate with their
team and ability to manage change are being reviewed in lights of the points referenced below: Performance and Initiative and
Achievements Criteria Innovation

Sub-Criteria

What do you do to create a culture of employee satisfaction and encouragement? Do you provide them with any
7 incentives? How frequently do you do so?

Do you have high persuasive and negotiation skills? What activities have you done to prove this? (Example: were you
8 able to secure large deals with external parties?) How do you ensure employees agree with your ideas? Give examples of
how you did so and what was the outcome.

Do you participate in any mentorship initiatives with your employees? Do you encourage a culture of success and
9 learning from mistakes? How do you act as a role model and set a good example for your team?

Do you encourage your employees to engage in personality development training? Do you follow up on the results of
10 their training? Do you encourage employees to take tasks with larger responsibilities? How do you ensure the team is
constantly comfortable with working with one another?
Supervisory Continuous
hat initiatives do you implement to make sure your employees receive the required feedback about their work? What Skills Learning
11 tools do you use? How do you follow up on the status of their work? Are you always available at their disposable in case
of any work requirements? Do you continuously provide them with personal growth advice and feedback?

12 How do you ensure all employees are continuously notified about updates in your activities? Do you involve all
employees in the change process? How often do you change and set goals? What are some results? Give examples.

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Individuals Participation Process
Individuals Participation Progress

Excellence team HR screening all Excellence team

organizes awareness applications to ensure conducts Individual Individuals
Self nomination session to introduce the that they comply with Awareness and submissions
guidelines & the conditions of Coaching Sessions preparation
requirements of all participation
different types of DCT
Awards

19-09-2022 19-09-2022 26-09-2022 03-10-2022 31-10-2022

360-degree assessment Independent Expert Receive the feedback

Desktop Assessment & DCT holds a ceremony
will be conducted for Assessors highlights of the submitted
start the interviews for and announces the
the candidates recommended winners documents of the
Individuals Winner’s names
& final scoring individuals

14-11-2022 14-11-2022 21-11-2022 28-11-2022 Town Hall

Individuals Award Criteria – Assessment Tool

Admin Support
Specialist Executive DCT Excellence & Innovation Award 5th Cycle
Employee director

New Joiner
Field Innovative
Dedicated Long-Serving Admin Performance and Initiative and
Employee Employee Achievements
Customer Service
Technical/ Supervision Criteria Innovation
Technologic Criteria
(Non supervisory) Customer
al Employee
Service
(Supervisory)

Non-
Non-supervisory N/A N/A Supervisory Supervisory
supervisory

30 50 50 60 30 70 50 40
Performance and
Achievement

40 25 25 20 50 15 10 20
Initiative and
Innovation

30 25 25 20 20 15 10 10
Continuing
learning Supervisory Continuous
Skills Learning

0 0 0 0 0 0 30 30
Supervisory
Skills

100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 Total

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Individuals Award Recognition

An Excellence Financial
Meda Certificate Reward
l

Ability to work A Trophy of 5 working days as an

remotely for 3 month Excellence admin leave