Over the recent years since Vision 2030 of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) has been initiated, the massive changes within the operations of government entities have led to a rise of expectations for better communications with the stakeholders to achieve effective citizen engagement. Communication strategies and initiatives have been developed and launched with the initiation of KSA’s Vision 2030 in order to streamline the strategic objectives and clarify the roles of stakeholders and staff as well as identify the target audience and communicate with them more effectively.
To implement the communication strategy of any public entity effectively and efficiently, the communication plans should include what information should be communicated, who should receive that information, when that information should be delivered, and how those communications are tracked. Also, some actions need to be considered within the implementation of communication strategy, such as opening two-way communication means, using technology to streamline the communications, and focusing more on engaging with the audience–not just listening to them and answering.
No matter where an organization stands on its journey, ensuring that its performance management practices are up to par can influence its progress. Done correctly, this could be the edge that sets it apart from the competition.
The KPI Institute (TKI), through the efforts of the dedicated members of The Global Performance Audit (GPA) Unit, has successfully collaborated with the Talent and Performance Management Department of the Tourism Development Fund (TDF) to evaluate the performance management practices of the organization. This evaluation encompasses various areas, such as strategic planning, corporate performance management, employee performance management, and organizational culture.
The TDF is a young organization established in Saudi Arabia in 2020 with the mandate of driving growth in the national tourism sector by enabling private investments. With nearly 200 employees, the TDF has set up a formal division dedicated to managing strategy and performance. It comes with specialized departments responsible for handling key processes like strategic planning, corporate performance management, strategic initiatives portfolio, organizational excellence, research, and insights. Similarly, people’s performance and organizational culture are guided by specialized teams.
The KPI Institute’s maturity assessment for the division adhered to a holistic approach in both project coverage and methodology. In terms of coverage, the following organizational capabilities were evaluated: strategic planning, performance measurement, performance improvement, employee performance culture, and organizational culture.
Figure 1. Integrated Performance Management Maturity Model | Source: The KPI Institute
Regarding the methodology, TKI’s Integrated Performance Maturity Model includes a review of formal procedures and other official documentation (outputs) and insights from employees in the organization obtained through surveys and interviews with key internal stakeholders. All findings were rated against best practices using a scoring methodology, and the final score positioned the TDF on maturity level IV out of V (see Figure 2).
Figure 2. Performance Management Maturity Level | Source: The KPI Institute
To read the full article and know more about the stages of a performance management system maturity assessment, download the PERFORMANCE Magazine Issue No. 27, 2023 – Government Edition now through TKI Marketplace.
Unlock best practices that drive success in the government sector with insights from the Tourism Development Fund’s performance management practices evaluation. Get your hands on the physical copy of the magazine via Amazon.
Islam Salahuddin is a data analyst with a strong focus on storytelling and data visualization, growing statistical knowledge, and developing a set of technical skills and tools. As an expert in data analysis at The KPI Institute, Islam leads the generation of research on the domain of data analytics and the development of business analytics toolkits.
Jino Noel is a data science and technology leader with extensive experience in building data teams and practices across different organizations. His experience ranges from working in startups to large conglomerates across both Australia and the Philippines. At the time of this interview, he was the Chief Data Officer at Data Analytics Ventures, Inc. (DAVI). Currently, he is the Chief Data Officer at Angkas.
What are the key skills that a Chief Data Officer should possess nowadays?
A Chief Data Officer should have both data-related technical expertise as well as people leadership skills. Leading will always be part of the job, particularly for highly specialized technical people such as data engineers and data scientists. To be able to lead them properly, I believe it is better to be a technical person myself, so I can discuss technical matters fluently, which helps me gain their trust.
What data-related challenges have you faced as the Chief Data Officer of DAVI? How did you overcome these challenges?
Our data-related challenges are the same as any company. Being able to trust our data, cleaning up data from our sources, data latencies, and other related issues. DAVI overcame these by investing in people—hiring high-quality experts in our data engineering, data governance, and analytics teams to help us make sense of the data coming in—and building robust data pipelines that have increased the standard of quality of the data in our data lake.
How does DAVI make use of advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning to help its clients understand their customers’ needs and buying patterns?
DAVI has recently started using machine learning to model our users’ propensity to buy certain products. This helps us create more accurate target audiences for our precision marketing campaigns. We are also moving forward with a recommendation engine project, with the goal of improving user engagement with our retail partners and with our promos and campaigns. On top of this, we are improving our machine learning operations expertise to make our model deployments repeatable and robust.
In the digital marketplace, data analytics acts as a guiding compass for app developers, enabling the creation of personalized, high-performing applications that align with user preferences. By leveraging data, developers can understand nuanced user behaviors and preferences, allowing them to tailor apps to meet specific user needs and aspirations.
Dive deeper into these discussions by reading Jino Noel’s full interview with The KPI Institute. Download the free digital copy of PERFORMANCE Magazine Issue No. 26, 2023 – Data Analytics on the TKI Marketplace. You can also purchase a physical copy via Amazon.
Alfonso Medela is the Chief Artificial Intelligence (AI) Officer at Legit.Health, where he oversees the use of advanced computer vision algorithms. A renowned expert in few-shot learning and medical imaging, his contributions include developing an algorithm capable of diagnosing over 232 skin conditions.
What are the key skills that a Chief AI Officer should possess in the context of your role at Legit.Health?
A Chief AI Officer at a medical organization like Legit.Health needs strong AI expertise, including extensive knowledge of machine and deep learning, and a profound understanding of medical data and healthcare to ensure precise algorithm development. Besides technical skills, strategic thinking and leadership are vital for guiding the AI team and aligning with company goals. Great communication and collaboration skills are also crucial for working effectively with different teams.
Can you describe your experience in developing and implementing AI strategies for computer vision applications, specifically in the context of diagnosing and treating skin pathologies? How have you leveraged AI to improve diagnosis accuracy and enable life-saving therapies?
Heading a team of specialists, we’ve developed advanced algorithms that accurately identify over 232 skin conditions and automate follow-ups for chronic skin conditions. Using deep learning techniques, our platform provides real-time diagnostic support to healthcare professionals, improving their accuracy and enabling early intervention. By collaborating with medical experts and continuously refining our algorithms, we are able to offer a powerful tool that empowers clinicians, transforming healthcare and improving patient outcomes.
What approaches or methodologies do you use to ensure the accuracy and reliability of computer vision algorithms in the context of skin pathology diagnosis? Can you share examples of how you have validated the performance of AI models and ensured their safety and effectiveness in real-world clinical settings?
To guarantee accuracy and reliability, our computer vision algorithms undergo a multi-stage validation process that encompasses retrospective and prospective clinical validations. Rigorous testing is performed on diverse, representative datasets, employing cross-validation to assess model performance. We collaborate closely with medical professionals, reviewing AI model outputs and gathering feedback to iteratively refine our algorithms. Furthermore, we conduct clinical trials and pilot studies to evaluate safety and efficacy. This ensures that our models adhere to real-world requirements and actively contribute to enhancing patient outcomes.
AI stands as one of the most transformative technologies of the modern era, revolutionizing the way people approach complex problems across various fields. From enhancing healthcare diagnostics to driving advancements in autonomous vehicles, AI’s potential is vast and continually expanding.
To explore the full spectrum of Alfonso Medela’s pioneering work in AI and to stay updated with the latest industry insights, read his full interview exclusively featured in the PERFORMANCE Magazine Issue No 26, 2023 – Data Analytics edition. Download your free copy now through the TKI Marketplace or purchase a printed copy from Amazon.
Islam Salahuddin is a data analyst with a strong focus on storytelling and data visualization, growing statistical knowledge, and developing a set of technical skills and tools. As an expert in data analysis at The KPI Institute, Islam leads the generation of research on the domain of data analytics and the development of business analytics toolkits.
Jino Noel
Alfonso Medela