Tutorial_Caf_2020_etool.pdf

CAF 2020 - eTool
CAF 2020 - eTool
The Caf etool is continously updated so be sure to have the last ver-
sion, referring to https://sites.google.com/view/caf-etool-2020
Warning :
the Caf etool is based upon a Microsoft SQL database, so it is man-
datory to download and install first a Microsoft application called
SQLLocalDb.msi .
To do so, please, follow the Startup instructions, that you’ll find in
the last pages of the present Tutorial.

CAF 2020 - eTool
CAF 2020 - eTool
WHY THIS ETOOL
The main goal of an etool is to facilitate the management of
one or more processes; it doesn’t intervene directly in the
management, but only acts as a support.
In the case of Caf 2020, we are dealing with a model that, ho-
wever simple, actually implies a considerable commitment on
the part of a small or large organisation, a commitment sha-
red between several assessors.
Below it is a list of features relating to this etool.
1) it allows different assessors to operate on the data for
which they are responsible, which can subsequently be in-
tegrated, for the purpose of producing final summary do-
cuments.
The model considers twenty-eight sub-criteria articulated in
examples (around ten for each sub-criterion). Of each example
different aspects must be considered, differentiated between
"enablers" and "results", consisting of both textual content
and numerical values. All this having in mind that among the
various entities there are logical connections to be taken into
account.
It is therefore a framework that, however complex, must be
designed precisely, on a support that is reliable and easy to
manage by users.
2) it provides an engine for automatic data management.
The etool adopts the Microsoft SQL relational database.
3) it implements the synchronization of data produced re-
motely by the assessors.
The product of the assessors needs to be integrated, synchro-
nization mechanisms are therefore necessary.
The etool offers two tools that allow it to be implemented, al-
lowing each individual assessor to produce a single compres-
sed file, to be transmitted in the most appropriate ways, to a
figure with administrator functions.
4) it produces automatic data summaries.
Considering the mass of data with which we are dealing with,
it is imperative to have summaries available that allow us to
have a picture as complete as possible of the situation, in or-
der to make the right choices.
The etool allows to create, in a simple and fast way, many
summaries of the data, in the form of documents with hetero-
geneous content, or in the form of numerical tables or graphs.
These documents can be further processed and finally printed
and /or saved in the most appropriate supports.
5) it compares the values between different numerical ta-
bles and assign the most appropriate score.
The attribution of the final scores comes from the consensus
meeting.
The etool has a single environment in which to recall for each
single dimension of analysis (plan-do-check-act / trend-
targets-comparisons-coverage) and for each sub criterion, the
tables of all the data entered by all the assessors, supported
by their statistical and graphical data.

CAF 2020 - eTool
CAF 2020 - eTool
It is also possible, at the same time, to recall the situation con-
cerning the evidences, the strengths, weaknesses, ideas for
improvement, of each subcriterion, so as to have all the ele-
ments possible to attribute the final scores.
6) it facilitates the reading of numerical data.
Numerical data is indispensable as they represent the measu-
rements of the parameters that describe an organisation. The
etool produces, in addition to the numerical tables, also their
graphic representation through histograms, aerograms, radar
diagrams, which facilitate the understanding of the results.
7) the pyramidal structure of data elaboration (see next
page)
Data passes through different elaborations, which follow the
logical path adopted in practice. The user is thus guided in
their insertion and takes advantage of all the facilities offered
by the automation. For the Enablers this is applied in the path
that from the relative raw data leads to a first synthesis and
therefore to the extrapolation of the strengths, weaknesses,
areas for improvement, ideas for improvement and the final
(automatic) document of the Self Assessment Report.
For the prioritization phase, this is applied in the path that le-
ads from the ideas for improvement to their collation by the-
mes, to the first formulation of the improvement actions, to
their subdivision into key improvement actions and quick
wins. They in turn will form the basis for the subsequent and
final phase of prioritization.
8) it considers the international nature of the Caf model.
Caf is an international model, born in Europe but also adopted
outside of it. The Caf 2020 is available in 19 languages.
The development environment with which the etool was crea-
ted allows the complete localization in the various languages,
both of the examples and of the user interface, in order to
make the model completely usable, without linguistic obsta-
cles and this may constitute an additional factor of its diffu-
sion. At now it is fully localised in English and Italian and par-
tially localised in 17 languages.
9) input of textual data with dictation
Text can be inserted with keyboard, but also with the dicta-
tion feauture, for all the languages for which it is currently a-
vailable by the Microsoft Windows operating system.
To start dictating, select a text field and press the Windows
logo key + H to open the dictation toolbar. Then say
whatever’s on your mind.

CAF 2020 - eTool
CAF 2020 - eTool
THE PYRAMIDAL STRUCTURE OF DATA ELABORATION
SELF-ASSESSMENT PHASE PRIORITISATION PHASE
APPROACHES TO PRIORITISATION

CAF 2020 - eTool
CAF 2020 - eTool
It is recommended to follow the numerical order to
visualize the videos .
* The videos were made some time ago, so the images slightly differ from the current interfa-
ce, but the underlying concepts are basically the same.
YOUTUBE VIDEOS
1 Enablers(2:39)
2 Results(8:12)
3 Self Assessment Report(3:27)
4 Enablers/Results score(5:32)
5 Ideas collation(6:42)
6 Key actions(1:54)
7 Consensus(2:42)
8 Eipa prioritisation(4:35)
9 Synchronisation(2:49)
Caf Clipboard (3:27)
<
<
<
INDEX
MAIN FORM
PRIORITISATION
FORM
ETOOL RELATIONS
ELABORATION
PATH OF KEY IM-
PROVEMENT AC-
TIONS
<
RETURN LINKS TO:

CAF 2020 - eTool
CAF 2020 - eTool
 Numeric values are initialized to 0 (zero).
 Text values are initialized to "--" (double dash, without quotes).
 The following conventions have been adopted in the management of the indicators:
- for sub-criteria 6.1 - 7.1 - 8.1 the values are initialized to the string "RESULT" (without quotes);
- for sub-criteria 6.2 - 7.2 - 8.2 - 9.1 - 9.2 the values are initialized to the string
“INDICATOR" (without quotes);
If you change a text value initialized to "--" with a different one and then want to delete it, do not insert
blank spaces but reinsert the string "--".
In the management of indicators, when you insert a new string value, thus changing the default ones, and
subsequently you want to delete it, reinsert the initialization ones "RESULT" or "INDICATOR" (without quo-
tes).
When you change any value, you are actually changing a database field. The above conventions actually
behave like filters, instructing the software to take into account (or not) a certain value. This avoids
processing unnecessary database fields.
CONVENTIONS
WARNING
 the etool creates several necessary files only after the first use, so you can’t execute commads like
Export or Merge during the same.
 the presence of an antivirus could prevent the etool from running correctly , so it’s better to accondingly
set the concerning execption rules (or temporarily disable the antivirus).

CAF 2020 - eTool
CAF 2020 - eTool
WHY THIS ETOOL
PART 1 - THE SELF ASSESSMENT PHASE
➢MAINFORM
➢CAF ADJUSTMENT
➢INTERFACE LOCALISATION
➢ENABLERS MANAGEMENT
➢YEARS INSERTION
➢INDICATORS MANAGEMENT
➢RESULTS MANAGEMENT
➢CHRONOLOGY
➢SYNTHESIS MANAGEMENT
➢STRENGHTS-WEAKNESSES-IDEAS FOR IMPROV.
➢ENABLERS SCORE INPUT
➢RESULTS SCORE INPUT
➢CONSENSUS MEETING MANAGEMENT
➢SCORE MONITORING
➢CHARTS MANAGEMENT
➢INTERACTIVE CHARTS
➢CONTRIBUTIONS MERGING
➢SELF ASSESSMENT REPORT
➢BACKUP
➢COPY GRIDS
PART 2 - THE PRIORITISATION PHASE
➢IDEAS COLLATION
➢ACTIONS FORMULATION
➢QUICK WINS/KEY IMPROVEMENT ACTIONS
➢PRIORITISATION EIPA approach
➢PRIORITISATION AUSTRIAN approach
➢PRIORITISATION FINNISH approach
➢PRIORITISATION ITALIAN approach
➢PRIORITISATION PORTUGUESE approach
➢PRIORITISATION SLOVAK approach
PART 3 – INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS
➢INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS
➢HOW TO OPERATE
➢DATA ENTRY
PART 4 – APPENDICES
APPENDIX A
➢THE SYNCHRONIZATION PROCEDURE
APPENDIX B
➢A CAF-etool PROJECT
APPENDIX C
➢WORKFLOW
➢CAF JOURNEY
➢CAF CLIPBOARD
UTILITIES
➢BENCHLEARNING
➢BALANCED SCORE CARD
➢PCM
➢ETOOL RELATIONS
➢ELABORATION PATH KEY IMPROV. ACTIONS ..
. ➢CRITICAL SUCCESS FACTORS
➢ANNOTATIONS
➢DICTATION
➢HIERARCHICAL GRAPH TOOL: INPUTGLEE
CONCLUSIONS

CAF 2020 - eTool
CAF 2020 - eTool
INDEX
> > > >
> >
> >
> >
>
To select an assessor, click an option button.
The colors of the buttons follow a logic subdivision.
——————————————————————————-———-
TEXTUAL DATA MANAGEMENT
The first row of buttons calls the forms for (from left to right):
-Insert raw data for Enablers
-Insert raw data for Results
-To do a synthesis for every sub criterion, based upon the previous
raw data
-To establish, referring to the previous synthesis, the WEAK-
NESSES, STRENGHTS, AREAS FOR IMPROVEMENT,
IDEAS FOR IMPROVEMENT for every sub criterion. I
have called the inherent button REGISTER.
——————————————————————————-———-
NUMERICAL DATA MANAGEMENT
The second row deals with commands to manage the SCORES, the CON-
SENSUS meeting and the score representation through charts .
——————————————————————————-———-
The third row deals with UTILITY operations such as (from left to right):
-Export all the data of every assessor (from assessor 1 to assessor 10)
to synchronize (this is done by the Administrator) all the contribu-
tions (scores, weaknesses, areas for improvement, ideas for im-
provement)
-To do a backup or to restore the archives and to subdivide the work
among the assessors of the raw data inserted with the ENABLERS
and RESULTS commands
-To do the synchronization of all the contributions (scores, weak-
nesses, areas for improvement, ideas for improvement) .
-To print the SELF ASSESSMENT REPORT inside the inner word
processor in a structured manner that, of course, can be further on
elaborated, inside or outside it.
——————————————————————————-———--
The fourth row shows the credits, call the form for the PRIORITISA-
TION phase, call the form to manage the steps of the Caf journey and
exit from the application.
——————————————————–———
Call the Caf clipboard - Call the tutorial
>
>
INDEX

CAF 2020 - eTool
CAF 2020 - eTool
For every sub criterion
(1.1 in the picture) and
for every example (n.1
in the picture) there are
four textual boxes to
fill.
INDEX
ENABLERS MANAGEMENT
<
<
The command o-
pens a new form for
the synthesis
management.
The Font command
allows you to esta-
blish the Font type
and size of the te-
xtual boxes
The image shows the filled textual boxes (in
blue) and the empty ones (in gray) inherent the
examples.
INDEX

CAF 2020 - eTool
CAF 2020 - eTool
“The core of CAF2020 is a questionnaire with 200 examples of self-assessment of public organisations.”
(https://www.eipa.eu/portfolio/european-caf-resource-centre/)
The word “examples” tell us theyr true nature: they represent only suggestions.
An interesting pubblication “Implementing CAF in public administration: Best practices in Europe ‐ obstacles and challenges” by Mel-
pomeni A. Vakalopoulou, George D Tsiotras, Katerina Gotzamani
is downloadable at https://www.researchgate.net/
publication/263491110_Implementing_CAF_in_public_administration_Best_practices_in_Europe_-_obstacles_and_challenges/
link/56fa59ed08ae81582bf4c49a/download
Within it several ideas are underlined about the Caf adjustment:
“… modifying CAF and adjusting it into the uniqueness of every organization can be obtained only through careful study and analysis
of its implementation.”
“… organizations not only implemented CAF, but they tried to differentiate and adjust it to their individual structure and status.”
“The study of this case proves the need for CAF adjustments to the specialised conditions of every organization. Also, the example of
the Finnish Public Management Department shows that CAF is a tool that can evolve and adjust itself to the new challenges and spe-
cial features of every public administration. “
In the recent “Transforming Public Administration with Caf” by Thomas Prorok, Philp Parzer, they claim at page 36:
“With the adjustment of the CAF questionnaire the examples of CAF can be concretised and customised to the specific culture and
‘language’ of the organisation”
This eTool takes care of this important aspect of the Caf model and allows to personalize the examples and also to add others, in order to
fulfill the above ideas. Look next pages for the Enablers’ and Results’ examples adjustment .
CAF ADJUSTMENT INDEX
<
< INDEX

CAF 2020 - eTool
CAF 2020 - eTool
Adjustment of the Caf
questionnaire: customi-
ze the examples.
The examples can be customised ,
tailoring them to own organisa-
tion. It is up to the Admin to take
this into account for the synchroni-
zation (see the part about synchro-
nization in this tutorial).
To do so you can call the interested
form with the commands (see next
page). They refers to the same
form.
ADJUSTMENT AND LOCALISATION
These two features allow you to fully localise the CAF eTool in your language by yourself.
INDEX

CAF 2020 - eTool
CAF 2020 - eTool
Adjustment of the Caf questionnaire. Click a subcriterion button, they are listed its examples. The left column is a readonly
one and contains the original example as in the CAF model. The right column can be edited, so you can adjust all the exam-
ples, both for Enablers and Results.
INDEX

CAF 2020 - eTool
CAF 2020 - eTool
Before you insert any data in the Re-
sults forms it needs to select the
years with the command
If, for example, you select 2018 (in the
list) as the first year, you have the
situation in the picture.
That is three years for which you can
insert data in the Results forms. Then
click Exit.
This operation is done only once,
at the beginning of the work.
INDEX
YEARS
<
This is a fontpicker, to choose the
font family and the size of the font to
use in the forms.
INDEX

CAF 2020 - eTool
CAF 2020 - eTool
To insert data for the Results, it first needs to have a series of measurable parameters, the performance
and perception indicators , relative to the organisation. The Caf model gives not binding indications about
them, so the organisation is free to find and structure such parameters for its needs.
Next phase is to insert them in the Caf etool database, which has room for up to 15 indicators for every exam-
ple . Once inserted, they can only be affined during time, so it is recommended a deep study about their com-
position and structuring.
The Admin inserts the indicators in his/her database so they have to be synchronized with the S.A.G. compo-
nents.
The Backup form presents, for this purpose, two commands named BKP-IND and RST-IND, respectively for
the backup and the restore of only data inherent the indicators. With the
command BKP-IND it is created the backup in any chosen folder inside the
system and also the relative compressed file, that can be easily transmitted
to S.A.G. components. They, after its decompression in their own system, will
launch the restoring operation. The below picture shows the work scheme.
The operation can be repeated when it needs.
INDICATORS MANAGEMENT
<

CAF 2020 - eTool
CAF 2020 - eTool
1) select an example with the Ex-
amples list (the first is visible in
the picture) , they are shown FIF-
TEEN indicators (this is a fixed
number).
2) update an indicator : click on it
and change the text.
This slider allows to enlarge/
shrink the height of the textboxes.
INDEX
The default text “RESULT” (for 6.1-7.1-8.1) or “INDICATOR” (for 6.2-7.2-8.2-9.1-9.2) have to be changed for the new indi-
cators. If the text is not changed they are not considered, that is, it is a kind of filter. Once you have edited the indicators that
you want, you can click on the EXIT button. Regarding the perception results (6.1 - 7.1 - 8.1), what you insert in the con-
cerning fields are the same elements that you consider in the questionnaires, surveys, focus groups, appraisals, interviews,
consultation with staff representatives, user panels, reports, public press meetings, NGOs, CSOs and/or others instruments
that the organisation usually adopts.
INDICATORS MANAGEMENT
<
< INDEX

CAF 2020 - eTool
CAF 2020 - eTool
1) Select an example from the
list
2) Select an indicator (previously
established) with the naviga-
tion bar (they are available
up to fifteen indicators for
every example - the estab-
lished indicators are indicated
in green color)
3) Fill the two textual boxes and
insert the values (inherent the
selected indicator) for three
years.
INDEX
RESULTS MANAGEMENT <
<
A useful chart shows the numerical values in a more readable way.
The reference years are established only once, within the previous
form YEARS, at the beginning of the work. You can also manage
the indicators directly inside theyr textbox’s description. The man-
agement table of the previous page, will be accordingly updated, in
a two-way mode.
INDEX

CAF 2020 - eTool
CAF 2020 - eTool
RESULTS MANAGEMENT PANELS
1) selection of the
example
2) indicators naviga-
tion
3) insertion of values,
perception results/
indicators results
and summary
4) values chart
The previous image is re-proposed for clarity, given the importance of the topic.
Although it seems complex, it actually reflects the ordinary indicators management procedure.

CAF 2020 - eTool
CAF 2020 - eTool
CRONOLOGY OF THE RESULTS
When you complete a three-years pe-
riod in a RESULTS table, with the
SHIFT command you can perform a
shifting of data to eliminate the first
year and to insert a new one. This way,
however, valuable information would
be lost. It has been introduced the pos-
sibility of inserting such a year into a
specific table which will then reflect the
CRONOLOGY of the results (for that in-
dicator).
In the left picture there is the table of
examples in subcriterion 6.1. The
ID_REL column represents the code in
the example.
Let's consider the first example, with
code ID_REL = 1.
Clicking on that first line they will be
shown, in the second table, all the IN-
DICATORS related to this sub-criterion
(in a fixed number of fifteen).
By clicking on each orange button of
them , the third table shows the chro-
nology for such a parameter and the
concerned chart.
INDEX
RESULTS’ CHRONOLOGY <
<
A chart is invaluable to show the changing over time of the
considered parameter. They are all test values, of course.
You can print all the tables in the inner wordprocessor.
INDEX

CAF 2020 - eTool
CAF 2020 - eTool
For every sub criterion, in the left side are called the list of examples and the data inserted with the previous
forms. This is a reader, that allows to clearly look the data and with searching text features. In this Edit environ-
ment they can be inserted others external objects (pictures, tables, charts, and so on) and to do copy/paste
from left to right. For ENABLERS they are shown the EVIDENCES,for the RESULTS it is shown the SUMMARY.
INDEX
SYNTHESIS MANAGEMENT
<
< INDEX

CAF 2020 - eTool
CAF 2020 - eTool
For every subcriterion it is
called (in the right side) the
document created with the
previous form, that is, the
situation for the selected one .
It is a read-only document
and referring to its content
they can be filled the four
textual fields concerning
STRENGHTS, WEAKNESSES,
AREAS FOR IMPROVEMENT,
IDEAS FOR IMPROVEMENT ,
selected with the homony-
mous buttons.
It is also shown the score,
previously inserted with the
inherent forms.
This command print the
stenghts, weaknesses, areas
and ideas for improvement, in
the inner wordprocessor,
where they can be further
elaborated.
To facilitate the future
subdivision in QUICK WINS and ACTIONS, it is
recommended, for every proposed action, to in-
sert on the left also the number of the sub crite-
rion to which it belongs. The following is an ex-
ample:
1.1 – action 1 - Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, ...
1.1 – action 2 - Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, ...
1.1 – action 3 - Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, ....
INDEX
PRIORITISATION PHASE
The command IDEAS COLLA-
TION opens the inherent form
- look at -->
<
<
<
>
STRENGHTS- WEAKNESSES,-AREAS FOR IMPROVEMENT- IDEAS FOR IMPROVEMENT MANAGEMENT
<
READ ONLY
These are toggle buttons, when one of them is
active, the others are not, so you have to deacti-
vate it to click another.
INDEX

CAF 2020 - eTool
CAF 2020 - eTool
The form for the score
assignment for En-
ablers.
The labels are colored
based on their value ac-
cording to the upper
range scale.
This command switch
from the remarks scor-
ing and the list of ex-
amples.
You can insert the RE-
MARKS to scoring for
every subcriterion. All
the remarks can be
printed in the inner
wordprocessor.
This command shows/
hides the labels of the
examples, so you can
do copy/paste inside
the textboxes.
INDEX
ENABLERS' SCORE ASSIGNMENT
<
< INDEX

CAF 2020 - eTool
CAF 2020 - eTool
With the MAP command it is
drawn the complete map,
which concerns all the En-
ablers sub-criteria and their
examples subdivided for
score range .
These are the labels shown
with the command, that you
insert inside the inherent
textboxes (look the previous
page).
With the COPY_GRIDS form
it is possible to collect also
this type of data for every
assessor. The scores instead,
are inserted with the SYN-
CHRONIZATION command.
INDEX
<
These are toggle buttons, when one of them is
active, the others are not, so you have to deacti-
vate it to click another.
INDEX

CAF 2020 - eTool
CAF 2020 - eTool
The VALUES command
shows the map of all
the values of all the
sub-criteria, concerning
one assessor (the one
selected with the START
form). The conditional
formatting allows, by
means of the colors, to
see the complete situa-
tion.
INDEX
< INDEX

CAF 2020 - eTool
CAF 2020 - eTool
The EVIDENCES
command shows the
same ( previously
established inside
the ENABLERS
forms) for the se-
lected subcriterion,
so to easily identify
the right range score
INDEX
< INDEX

CAF 2020 - eTool
CAF 2020 - eTool
The upper buttons
show another values
map, concerning the
score inserted by all
the assessors. The goal
is, of course, to have
ever the complete
situation clearly shown.
The red number on the
left shows the clicked
button and the con-
cerning criterion.
INDEX
< INDEX

CAF 2020 - eTool
CAF 2020 - eTool
Clicking upon a
subcriterion but-
ton and clicking
upon this button,
they are shown/
hidden the Weak-
nesses, Strengths,
Ideas for im-
provement, Areas
for improvement
for the same sub-
criterion, so to
have all the ele-
ments to assign the
score.
The Results’ score
assignment has the
same feature, not
shown for short-
ness.
INDEX
< INDEX

CAF 2020 - eTool
CAF 2020 - eTool
Clicking upon a
subcriterion but-
ton while the visible
option button is se-
lected, you can
view the relative
bar chart.

CAF 2020 - eTool
CAF 2020 - eTool
1. click the PRINT command
2. SELECT the content (click inside the text and press Ctrl + A)
3. COPY the content in the clipboard (Ctrl + C)
open EXCEL, click a cell and paste (Ctrl + V)
The same for the RESULTS and the CONSENSUS values.
INDEX
<
INSERT THE VALUES IN EXCEL INDEX

CAF 2020 - eTool
CAF 2020 - eTool
You can call the Synthesis and simultaneously work
with both, so to assign the right score and to
position the sub-criteria’s number inside the small
textboxes.
ASSIGN SCORE LOOKING AT THE SYNTHESIS INDEX

CAF 2020 - eTool
CAF 2020 - eTool
The form for the score
assignment for Results.
The labels are colored
based on their value ac-
cording to the upper
range scale. The MAP
command shows the
map of all the values, as
that of Enablers score
(not shown for short-
ness). The upper buttons
show the values inserted
by all the assessors score
(not shown for short-
ness).
This command switch
from the remarks scoring
and the list of examples.
You can insert the RE-
MARKS to scoring for
every subcriterion. All the
remarks can be printed
in the inner wordproces-
sor.
INDEX
RESULTS' SCORE ASSIGNMENT
<
< INDEX

CAF 2020 - eTool
CAF 2020 - eTool
For every analysis dimen-
sion (PLAN/DO/CHECK/
ACT/TREND/TARGETS/
COMPARISON/
COVERAGE) it is shown
the chart with the score
assigned by every asses-
sor . The consensus score
is assigned from the lists
and its value is automati-
cally placed in one of the
two tables, relating to the
chosen option.
These simple statistics help the attribution of the consensus score. The data distribution
is also shown in a box plot chart. Data refers to test values.
If you hover the cursor upon the boxplot chart, you can see its values (min, max, Q1 <
first quartile >, Q3 < third quartile >, MEAN(continue line), MEDIAN(dashed line)).
All the statistics can be also printed with the command in the inner wordprocessor, where
they can be further elaborated. The chart for the new score can be created with the but-
tons like this.
INDEX
CONSENSUS MANAGEMENT
<
< INDEX

CAF 2020 - eTool
CAF 2020 - eTool
Clicking the buttons at the top it is shown the complete table of the numeric values of the relative chosen criterion. To
read this table:
- e.g. caf 4 1 is the criterion 4 and the assessor 1 , caf 4 3 is the criterion 4 and the assessor 3 and so on
- every row represents a phase e.g. the row with ID =5 is the PLAN phase, the row with ID =6 is the DO phase,
ID =7 is the CHECK phase, ID =8 is the ACT phase for sub criterion 4.2, and so on (the yellow row is the
PLAN/TREND phase).
Clicking again on a button the table is hidden and it is possible to click the others buttons. For Results the sequence is
TREND – TARGET – COMPARISON – COVERAGE
Subcriterion 4.2
Subcriterion 4.3
Subcriterion 4.4
Subcriterion 4.5
Subcriterion 4.6
INDEX
It is implemented a condi-
tional formatting that col-
ors the cells based on
their values.
<
Subcriterion 4.1
INDEX

CAF 2020 - eTool
CAF 2020 - eTool
With the REGISTER command it is possible to show/hide (for the chosen sub criterion) the weaknesses,
strengths, areas for improvement, ideas for improvement established in the Register form.
INDEX
< INDEX

CAF 2020 - eTool
CAF 2020 - eTool
In the CAF etool you can manage the numeric values (the score) that are represented as tables and charts. Of course they are
important and give you many informations. You obtain them in each evaluation session (during the CONSENSUS meeting) but
without any relation with the previous ones. The variation of data during time give you further useful informations. The picture
shows the variation of data during four evaluation sessions (look at the vertical gray lines, included the first and the last), who-
se name and date-time creation you can see in this list. You can see the graphics also for each single phase, in the example
the four phases and the score are shown. The example refers to random test (hence non-realistic) values. You can also inve-
stigate the relations among enablers and results, showing at the same time the relative graphics.
In the CONSENSUS management
form, at the end of the evaluation
session you can now save all the
numerical data (the score) in an
external file of suitable format
(,csv type) with the CSV com-
mand. With the TIME command
you can call the inherent form,
that allows you to read the abo-
ve .csv files, so to show the gra-
phical variation of data during
time. It’s up to the Admin to take
care of these important archives,
that represents the history of the
organisation.
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CAF 2020 - eTool
CAF 2020 - eTool
All the numeric values are
represented by several
kind of charts that can be
also printed (Bars-Pie-
Radar– Stacked bars).
With the HTML command
it is created an html file,
that can be published in a
website. Look at
“Interactive charts” further
on.
With the EXPORT com-
mand all the charts are
exported in the folder
you choice.
The visualized chart can
be copied in the clipboard
(COPY command) or
saved (SAVE command) in
your system.
You can insert all the exported images in a PowerPoint presentation with a few steps. 1. Launch PowerPoint , but do not
open the presentation in which you want to add the images. 2. Click "Insert" at the top of the window. 3. Click "Photo Album"
at the top to start a new photo album. 4. Click "File/Disk" and use the file browser to select all the images you want to insert
as slides. You can hold "Ctrl" while clicking to select multiple images or press "Ctrl-A" to select all of them. 5. Click "Insert" and
then "Create" to create a new photo album in a second PowerPoint window.
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CHARTS MANAGEMENT
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<
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INDEX
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BAR CHART
RADAR criteria
PIE CHART
RADAR –subcriteria INDEX

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PERCENTAGE BARS
GAUGE CHARTS
PARETO
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CAF 2020 - eTool
The command HTML in the CHARTS’ form creates an HTML file that, if is open with a browser, shows all the produced
charts in an interactive manner, that is, hovering the cursor on its elements it is shown the numeric value (they are
Google charts). It is very useful because it can be also published in our own website, to show to the world our Caf situa-
tion. The picture is a partial one, all the charts for all the sub-criteria are shown in the same window. There is also a global
stacked bars’ chart (see next page)
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INTERACTIVE BAR CHARTS
< INDEX

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YOU CAN VISUALIZE
THESE CHARTS AT
https://sites.google.com/
view/caf-etool-2020-charts-
demo/home
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INTERACTIVE STACKED BAR CHART
<
“Gauge” charts.
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It is possible to investigate the relations among the enablers and the results looking the sub-criteria’s score (previously
established with the inherent forms) with suitable tables and charts, choosing the values source from Consensus meeting
or current Assessor . When the score is (automatically) inserted, the labels are coloured accordingly to the upper-left
range score, so to show a map. The numbers refer to test values, hence they are not coherent .
< INDEX
Clicking a but-
ton it is shown
a bar chart of
the numeric
values, for En-
ablers and Re-
sults, so to do a
visual compari-
son of them. In
the picture they
have been
clicked the 3.1
and 7.1 but-
tons.
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CAF 2020 - eTool
SYNCHRONIZATION
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The Assessor ‘s number is added after the contribution to which it belongs.
The Admin will remove this redundancy , making a further rationalization
of data.
3) Launch the COPY GRIDS command (look next page).
The order is not mandatory, so you can launch the COPY GRIDS command
first. You can manage this form only with Admin login.
Every assessor Exports his/her own data with
this command from the main form and trans-
mits it to the Admin.
The Admin will put all the contributions received
by the Assessors in a folder as preferred. Then
he/she launches the command “MERGE” to in-
tegrate it in his/her own database.
This form is shown, to manage the MERGE and
the COPY GRIDS operations.
1) Select the folder into which there are the As-
sessors’ export data, (MyFolder Path in the ex-
ample). The existing assessments are shown
(from assessor 1 to assessor 5 in the example)
with concerning numbers in green color.
2) Launch the MERGE command. Data are
added (in numeric order of assessor) in their
own fields of the database, so there will be a
certain redundancy.
INDEX
<
MERGING OF CONTRIBUTIONS (SYNCHRONIZATION)
MyFolder Path
NOTICE
do not use the EXPORT
and MERGE commands
the first time the etool is
launched, because some
necessary files are created
subsequently.
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CAF 2020 - eTool
With the previous “MERGE” command it is possible to integrate some type of data, like strengths, weak-
nesses, areas for improvement, ideas for improvement and scores (for enablers and results), but for the raw
data inserted with the first two forms (ENABLERS and RESULTS) this is not possible or rather, it doesn’t
make sense. With this functionality it is possible to leverage the subdivision of the work among the as-
sessors and then to integrate it.
In the left there are listed all 28 sub-criteria with aside a choosing list with a range 1-10. These numbers are
the order numbers of each assessor.
In the picture the assessor n. 2 compiles the form concerning sub-criteria 1.1-1.2-1.3 -7.1-7.2 and assessor
n. 1 compiles the forms 3.1-3.2-3.3-5.1-5.2-5.3 and so on.
The subdivision of the work among the assessors is a strength of Caf model and this etool takes care of this
aspect .
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COPY GRIDS
<
DISTRIBUTION OF WORK
Please look at section for further clarifications.
SYNCHRONISATION
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SELF ASSESSMENT REPORT
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With this command the Self Assessment
Report is automatically created inside an
Edit environment, where it can be further
on elaborated and then printed.
The content is automatically created
taking it from the database and from the
rtf files created in the Synthesis form, so,
every elaboration that you do inside it, is
not automatically saved when you exit
from this form. You can save it with the
save command in the ribbon, or you can
do copy/paste in another word proces-
sor.
PRINT SELF ASSESSMENT REPORT
< < INDEX
SELF ASSESSMENT REPORT INDEX

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1) select the reader option
2) click the command
3) select the scrolling mode
it is shown the new bar so it is
possible to insert several types of
annotations. This S.A.R. is not the
final version, but only the base on
which to work, so the annotations
are useful.
With this command (a toggle but-
ton) it is shown/hidden the list of
(textual) annotations.
<

CAF 2020 - eTool
CAF 2020 - eTool
BACKUP
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The backup and restore of data are very important functions in every
software and the right backup policy is a basic rule.
As a further security initiative, during the exit phase, it is maked an
automatic backup inside an hidden folder, that can be restored in the
case of difficulties. It is recommended to ever make also an external
backup.
During the same phase it is also created a compres-
sed backup file, named with its timestamp. In this
way you’ll have the chronology (that you can call
with this command) of all the backup files, that you
can accordingly manage (copy, delete, rename, mo-
ve). This command exports the chronology.
BACKUP MANAGEMENT
These command have been introduced to facili-
tate the initial indicators management in that
they allow the backup and restore of data inher-
ent the same ( look also at the indicators man-
agement form).
If you have a folder synchronized with a cloud service
like Dropbox or Google Drive, you can select it with the
“Cloud” button and the .Zip chronology will be auto-
matically inserted also in such cloud services.
When you create a Backup in the folder you
prefer, it is created a new folder named
"XML", a compressed one named "XML_CAF.zip" and
a .bak file that is the backup of the inner SQL database.
When you Restore your work, you have to search and se-
lect the folder containing the XML folder.
< INDEX
T:mydir
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CAF 2020 - eTool
ANOTHER WAY TO CREATE A BACKUP
Inside your installation package (the Polish version in
the picture) there is the subfolder PACKAGE2. Enter
in it and you’ll find the files as in the picture. The two
files:
 DatiCaf.mdf
 DatiCaf_log.ldf
are your current database.
By paying close attention not to damage them, you can
copy and insert the same in any directory you want. For
example, you can structure a directory and subdirecto-
ries system in which to chronologically copy these fi-
les, like in the picture.
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Your BACKUP is positioned in a folder cal-
led “XML”, inside which there are
many .xml files. The .xml format is a uni-
versal one, so it can be read with many tools
including Microsoft Excel. Go to Open and
choose a file in your XML folder, choose
XML Table from the options that appear and
click OK in the next message that follows. It
is shown a table with the values (textual and
numerical). This is an example (a small part)
So you can easily read your database and manage a copy
of it for your purposes. The following is a chart done with
Excel with the previous values
You can also read a .xml file with:
 a browser
 a text editor
 an XML viewer/editor
but it’ll be shown in .xml format and not a table one as
with Excel.
READ YOUR DATABASE WITH EXCEL
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INDEX
PART 2 - PRIORITISATION PHASE
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INDEX
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< <
 QUICK WINS management
 BENCHLEARNING management
 BALANCED SCORECARD management
 PROJECT CYCLE MANAGEMENT
 HIERARCHICAL GRAPHS
 PARETO CHART
The EIPA button and the buttons with flags refer
to the localised approaches (EIPA - Italian—
Portuguese—Finnish—Austrian—Slovak) to the
prioritisation phase, as those presented in the
“CAF Improvement identification, prioritisa-
tion and implementation . A study of inspiring
practices installed in 20 Public Sector organisa-
tions throughout Europe and the methodologies
for prioritisation. “ by Patrick Staes, Nick Thijs,
Dorina Claessens in 2016.
> > >
> >
>
>
>
> > >
>
INDEX

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IDEAS COLLATION / ACTIONS FORMULATION
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Clicking the upper buttons they are shown the IDEAS FOR IMPROVEMENT for every subcriterion.
Clicking these buttons it is possible to collate the ideas under common themes (up to twenty).
The command FORMULATE ACTIONS shows the inherent form. You can PRINT the ideas for each theme.
INDEX
<
IDEAS COLLATION FOR THEME
<
<
>
<
REGISTER FORM
>
INDEX

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Clicking the THEMES button it is shown/hidden the list of common themes to manage the same.
INDEX
<
<
<
>
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To facilitate the
procedure, with
the MIRROR command the
ideas for improvement are du-
plicated. Clicking the S/H(show/
hide) command a new textbox
is shown signaled with a red la-
bel on the left. Clicking the up-
per buttons the ideas for im-
provement are shown in this
new textbox.
To collate an idea:
1) click an upper button (a
subcriterion)
2) click a Theme (1 up to 20)
3) select an idea from the left
textbox
4) press the F5 functional but-
ton of the keyboard and it
will be MOVED in the right
theme space
5) in this way you can operate
with the remaining data and
at the end of the work all
the content of the textboxes
will be empty, meaning this
that all the ideas have been
collated.
INDEX
<
The four buttons allow to format the text inside the new textbox. This is useful because
in this way you can organize the text before to move it inside the THEMES textbox. Text is
moved without formatting.
INDEX

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In the left they are automatically loaded the AREAS FOR IMPROVEMENT (from the REGISTER form) and the OR-
GANISATION’s STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES (previously elaborated in the CRITICAL SUCCESS FACTORS form, that
you can call with this command).
Clicking an upper button they are shown the IDEAS previously collated for theme and the theme’s description .
Based on these data, they can be formulated the IMPROVEMENT ACTIONS (on the right) that will be automati-
cally available in the QUICK WINS management form.
< INDEX
ACTIONS FORMULATION
<
<
TO THE
QUICK WINS
FORM
< INDEX

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QUICK WINS / KEY IMPROVEMENT ACTIONS
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In this textbox you’ll have
the action list automati-
cally taken from the AC-
TIONS FORMULATION
form.
The first operation to do
is to copy this list in the
middle textbox, with this
command. You do this
operation only once, but
in the case of a mistake
or a new self assessment
phase you can repeat
this operation.
You can print the three
contents inside the inner
word processor.
Now you can cut and paste , from the middle textbox to the left textbox the actions that are considered QUICK WINS. At
the end you’ll have all the QUICK WINS in the left textbox and all the KEY IMPROVEMENT ACTIONS in the middle text
box. The list of these actions will be automatically available in the following PRIORITISATION (for EIPA , Finnish, Portuguese,
Italian, Austrian, Slovak approach) form. As a further facilitation, when you select some text in the middle textbox, press the
F5 functional button of the keyboard and the text will be moved in the left textbox and is appended at the end of the ex-
isting text. If you do a mistake you can leverage the UNDO/REDO (Ctrl + Z / Ctrl + Y) features of the two textboxes: click
inside the textbox in which you want UNDO or REDO and press (Ctrl + Z / Ctrl + Y) how many times you want, there are not
limits.
INDEX
TO THE PRIO-
RITISATION
FORM
QUICK WINS / KEY IMPROVEMENT ACTIONS MANAGEMENT
<
<
KEY IMPROVEMENT ACTIONS
<
FROM THE ACTIONS
FORMULATION
FORM
<
< INDEX

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INDEX
<
<
PRIORITISATION - EIPA’s approach
<
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These KEY IMPROVEMENT ACTIONS are automatically inserted from the QUICK WINS elabo-
ration previously done, but until now it is only pure text.
You can now construct the KEY IMPROVEMENT ACTIONS LIST in the right., that is an indexed
one as you can see from the first column ID.
INDEX
The PRIORITISA-
TION command
shows the homony-
mous form.
The ACTION SHEET
command shows the
homonymous form,
that implements the
“Scheme B” of the
Caf brochure.
<
<
ACTIONS LIST CONSTRUCTION
<
FROM THE QUICK
WINS FORM
< <
<
< INDEX

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The actions can be com-
pleted with the informa-
tion as those considered
in the “Scheme B” of the
Caf brochure.
A synthesis can be
printed inside the inner
word processor, for fur-
ther elaborations.
You can also have a
GANTT chart with the
time data, but only for
the first 25 actions. See to
the next page.
The ACTION SHEET is
available also for Aus-
trian, EIPA, Finnish, Ital-
ian , Portuguese and Slo-
vak prioritisation phase.
INDEX
ACTION SHEET
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<
< <
<
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INDEX
The ini-
tiatives
are
shown
here by
clicking
on the
left
but-
tons.
INITIATIVES GANTT CHART
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< <
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The KEY IMPROVEMENT ACTIONS LIST, previ-
ously established, is shown in the right table.
INDEX
PRIORITISATION - EIPA APPROACH
<
< <
< INDEX

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CAF 2020 - eTool
This is the EIPA approach to the prioriti-
sation phase (COMPLETE MODE), as
that presented in the “CAF Improve-
ment identification, prioritisation
and implementation . A study of inspir-
ing practices installed in 20 Public Sector
organisations throughout Europe and the
methodologies for prioritisation. “ by
Patrick Staes, Nick Thijs, Dorina
Claessens in 2016.
It is possible to manage up to 50 de-
fault actions.
For every proposed action they can be
chosen the subcriterion to which it be-
longs, the SW value (articulated in
IMCC, IMST, IMIR, IMSR) , the EIM value
(articulated in LD, RN, SR), the PIM
value and the chosen action.
In this area it is shown a summary of
all the data inserted.
Clicking upon the small green labels
they are shown the definitions of every
voice.
The etool makes available the Caf score.
INDEX
COMPLETE MODE <
< <
< INDEX

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This is the EIPA approach to the pri-
oritisation phase (CONCENTRATED
MODE) .
It is very simplified compared with
the complete mode. The values for
the strategic weight SW and the ease
of implementation EIM are in the
range 1-10.
Several tables are accordingly pre-
sented in the edit environment of the
etool and created with the PRINT
commands. They can be saved or ex-
ported in other professional word
processor for further elaborations.
The following are some screenshots
of these tables.
INDEX
CONCENTRATED MODE
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< <
< INDEX

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Created in the complete mode
INDEX
STRATEGIC WEIGHT OUTPUT EASE OF IMPLEMENTATION OUTPUT
<
< <
< INDEX
Warning: due to a certain mechanism inside the programming language, the modification of the table in the
internal WordProcessor becomes difficult, because the program seems to slow down considerably. To overco-
me this obstacle, the table is by default created in a viewer, that is a fast operation. However, if you need to
edit the table, you can save the document in your system and then edit it within another WordProcessor. This
is true, of course, also for the complete (larger) table illustrated in the next page.

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Created in the complete mode (with test values).
INDEX
GLOBAL OUTPUT
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Created in the concentrated mode.
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CONCENTRATED MODE OUTPUT
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INDEX
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<
PRIORITISATION - AUSTRIAN approach
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INDEX
These KEY IMPROVEMENT ACTIONS are automatically inserted from the QUICK WINS elabora-
tion previously done.
You can now construct the KEY IMPROVEMENT ACTIONS LIST in the right.
INDEX
The PRIORITISA-
TION command
shows the homony-
mous form.
The ACTION SHEET
command shows the
homonymous form,
that implements the
Caf brochure.
<
FROM THE QUICK
WINS FORM
< <
< INDEX

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Insert the Priority value in
the INPUT column ( 0
up 8) , it will be inserted
also in the PRIORITY col-
umn and its background
colored accordingly the
lateral scale.
Once the work is complete
click on the SCORE
header and the table is
ordered in ascendant or
descendent order. Look at
the next picture.
INDEX
PRIORITISATION
<
< <
< INDEX

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EXPORT THE TABLE
1-Select a row clicking in
the left.
2-Click in the upper left
corner to select the
whole datagrid.
3-Press Ctrl + C and it is
copied in the clipboard.
4-Open your word proces-
sor and paste ( Ctrl +
V ) the content. Select
the table and set the
borders as visible and do
all the elaborations that
you want.
The PRIORITISATION is very
fast, because the most of the
work has been previously done
in the QUICK WINS form. Here
is done only a sieving opera-
tion.
INDEX
<
< <
< INDEX

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INDEX
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<
PRIORITISATION - FINNISH approach
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On the right there is the
action list. It is shown the
new action list . In the
middle there is a grid
with nine categories to
which belong the ac-
tions.
To categorize an action:
1) Select an action with
the navigation buttons
2)Click in one of the nine
buttons in the low/left
side (the categories). It is
updated the grid and in-
cremented (or decre-
mented) the number of
actions inside a category.
3). To know the actions
in a category, click upon
the relative black circular
button and they will be
shown in this list
INDEX
PRIORITISATION—FINNISH APPROACH
The ACTION SHEET command allows to manage the same as explained before.
<
< <
< INDEX

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The ACTION LIST command shows/hides the actions list from the QUICK WINS form (the KEY IM-
PROVEMENT ACTIONS ), so you can fill the KEY IMPROVEMENT ACTIONS LIST.
INDEX
<
< <
<
FROM THE QUICK
WINS FORM
INDEX

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The actions’ number and
the categories to which
they belong, are also
shown inside a MAP,
shown/hidden with this
command.
When you hover over a
yellow label (an action) it
is shown the tooltip of its
category and the descrip-
tion of the action inside a
pink textbox that appears
(in the picture it is visible
the tooltip for the cate-
gory “POTENTIAL” and
the description of the ac-
tion n.2). The pink textbox
disappears when you
leave the label.
The actions are positioned
in numeric order inside a
category. You can also as-
sign the “UNCLASSIFIED”
category to an action with
the “0” button.
INDEX
<
< <
< INDEX

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The action list is also
printed (with the PRINT
command) inside an
edit environment,
where it can be further
on elaborated.
INDEX
<
< <
< INDEX

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INDEX
<
<
PRIORITISATION - ITALIAN approach
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For every subcriterion, called with the above buttons, they are shown the weaknesses previously elaborated. It is possible to
classify them in three types as RECURRENT, STRATEGIC and OPERATIONAL . The buttons with the P (paste) letter, are use-
ful to paste the content of the clipboard (which content is here displayed) together with the number of the subcriterion to
which it belongs. As usual, it is possible to have automatically, a synthesis inside the Edit environment, that can be also
enlarged with the button E/S (enlarge/shrink).
INDEX
WEAKNESSES MANAGEMENT
<
< <
< INDEX

CAF 2020 - eTool
CAF 2020 - eTool
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisci elit, sed
eiusmod tempor incidunt ut labore et dolore magna ali-
qua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrum
exercitationem ullam corporis suscipit labo-
riosam, nisi ut aliquid ex ea commodi conse-
quatur.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisci elit,
sed eiusmod tempor incidunt ut labore et dolore magna
aliqua.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisci elit,
sed eiusmod tempor incidunt ut labore et dolore magna
aliqua.
ANALYSIS’ FLOW
1 - We copy in the clipboard one
weakness (Ctrl+C). Say that it is a re-
current weakness,we visualize the con-
tent of the clipboard with the P (paste)
button.
2 - As it is a recurrent weakness, we
paste it in the inherent textbox with the P
(paste) button. The content of the clip-
board will be added, together with the
number of the subcriterion to which it be-
longs (1.1 in the example)
3
Once we ha completed the work
we can get the synthesis with the PRINT com-
mand, inside the Edit environment.
The list of the classified weaknesses is shown.
INDEX
1.1
<
< <
< INDEX

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Print a synthesis of all the ini-
tiatives inserted inside the edit
environment.
Print the Action list as estab-
lished in the QUICK WINS
management form.
Show/Hide the Strengths.
Show/Hide the Action sheet.
It is possible to manage up to 25 initiatives . Choosing an option they can be filled the
four textual data and to insert the values of the impact column (1/3/5) and the feasibil-
ity column (1/3/5). The value of the priority’s field is automatically calculated. It can be
edited a synthesis, inside the Edit environment.
INDEX
INITIATIVES MANAGEMENT
<
< <
< INDEX

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The Initiatives’ management form also present a complete “Action-sheet” as the one
considered in the Caf model (the Scheme B). The previous picture show the form as it nor-
mally appears and this shows it when the remaining fields to consider are called.
INDEX
<
< <
< INDEX

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This is a (very simple) GANTT which refers to the INITIATIVES managed with the previous form. The initiatives are
shown here by clicking on the left buttons.
This is the date of the current day, useful to see the situation. The number of initiatives is 25.
INDEX
INITIATIVES GANTT CHART
<
< <
< INDEX

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With this form it is pos-
sible to do a prioritiza-
tion of the initiatives,
based upon the priority
value.
INDEX
PRIORITISATION—ITALIAN APPROACH
<
< <
< INDEX

CAF 2020 - eTool
CAF 2020 - eTool
INDEX
It is possible to insert up to 25
CFS. For every subcriterion, relat-
ing to the list of CFS you can in-
sert the value of the importance
( 1/2/3 ). It is then calculated the
total and the normalized total.
The command Importance Value
Chart shows a new form with the
next chart .
The command for the Critical
Success Factors analysis.
The command for a global view
of CSF.
CRITICAL SUCCESS FACTORS MANAGEMENT
<
< <
< INDEX

CAF 2020 - eTool
CAF 2020 - eTool
This is the global view of CSF. The labels’ color, based upon their numeric value, show a map
INDEX
<
< <
< INDEX

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CAF 2020 - eTool
INDEX
IMPORTANCE/VALUE CHART
<
< <
< INDEX

CAF 2020 - eTool
CAF 2020 - eTool
With the commands it is shown/hide the list of priorities
INDEX
<
< <
< INDEX

CAF 2020 - eTool
CAF 2020 - eTool
PARETO CHART
In the prioritisation phase the Pareto chart could be a useful tool.
<
INDEX

CAF 2020 - eTool
CAF 2020 - eTool
INDEX
<
<
PRIORITISATION - PORTUGUESE approach
<
< INDEX

CAF 2020 - eTool
CAF 2020 - eTool
The aggregation of the list of improvement suggestions can be done from the Action List : taken from the QUICK WINS.
Clicking upon an option they can be chosen the Self assessment team’s suggestions and the stakeholders’ suggestion
(source satisfaction surveys).
These suggestions are the actions chosen, that will be managed with the following PRIORITISATION form.
INDEX
IMPROVEMENT SUGGESTIONS MANAGEMENT <
FROM THE QUICK
WINS FORM
< <
< INDEX

CAF 2020 - eTool
CAF 2020 - eTool
Clicking an option (that is an
action) they can be inserted
the impact, capacity, clients,
choosing the values with the
comboboxes (1 / 3 / 5) and
the ranking. The scoring is
automatically calculated. The
improvement action is filled
with copy/paste from the list
of improvement suggestions
managed with the previous
form (see the next picture on
the right). For every action
must be filled the justifica-
tions for the scoring.
The UPDATE command is to
do manually the updating of
the database, usually done
when the exit button is
clicked. It is useful whether it
takes much time to manage
all the actions.The ACTION
SHEET command allows to
manage the same as ex-
plained before.
INDEX
SCORING
<
< <
< INDEX

CAF 2020 - eTool
CAF 2020 - eTool
With the PRINT command all the actions are listed with the table of values and the justifications to the
scoring, inside an edit environment, for further elaborations that can be also saved.
With the ACTIONS LIST command it is printed the list of actions as established in the aggregation form,
so it is possible to copy and paste in the IMPROVEMENT ACTION field.
INDEX
COPY/PASTE TO
IMPROVEMENT
ACTION FIELD
READ ONLY
<
< <
< INDEX

CAF 2020 - eTool
CAF 2020 - eTool
The PLANNIG phase is managed
with this form. The ACTION
LIST previously established is
available and shown/hidden
with the homonymous com-
mand.
INDEX
PLANNING MANAGEMENT
<
<
< INDEX

CAF 2020 - eTool
CAF 2020 - eTool
It is created with the
PRINT command
INDEX
<
<
< INDEX

CAF 2020 - eTool
CAF 2020 - eTool
INDEX
<
PRIORITISATION - SLOVAK approach
<
< INDEX

CAF 2020 - eTool
CAF 2020 - eTool
These KEY IMPROVEMENT ACTIONS are automatically inserted from the QUICK WINS elabo-
ration previously done.
You can now construct the KEY IMPROVEMENT ACTIONS LIST in the right. You have to insert
in an action field the number of the subcriterion to which it belongs in the form x.x (for example
4.3).
INDEX
The PRIORITISA-
TION command
shows the homony-
mous form.
The ACTION SHEET
command shows the
homonymous form,
that implements the
Caf brochure.
<
FROM THE QUICK
WINS FORM
<
< INDEX

CAF 2020 - eTool
CAF 2020 - eTool
For every subcrite-
rion you can insert
the score inherent
the eight principles
of excellence.
This score give us the
Index depending on
8 principles of excel-
lence (IPoE).
The Caf score give us
the Index depending
on the CAF evalua-
tion criteria (ICC).
INDEX
SCORING—PRINCIPLE OF EXCELLENCE
<
<
< INDEX

CAF 2020 - eTool
CAF 2020 - eTool
You can select
the whole table
clicking on up-
per left corner
of the grid, copy
in the clipboard
(Ctrl + C) and
paste (Ctrl + V)
in your word
processor, so
you can further
elaborate and
print it.
You can sort the
Ip column click-
ing on its title
“Ip”.
INDEX
This form automatically shows the action list and the final priority index, according to the formula
Ip = 0,6*ICC + 0,4*IPoE
<
<
< INDEX

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CAF 2020 - eTool
INDEX
UTILITIES
INDEX

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CAF 2020 - eTool
This form allows to
manage the bench
learning process. It is
composed of five
phases.
INDEX
BENCHLEARNING MANAGEMENT
<
<
< INDEX

CAF 2020 - eTool
CAF 2020 - eTool
It is possible to print a
synthesis than can be
also edited in its own
environment and then
saved.
INDEX
BENCHLEARNING MANAGEMENT
<
<
< INDEX

CAF 2020 - eTool
CAF 2020 - eTool
The Critical Success Factors can be analyzed through a path that deals with the Vision and the Mission of the
organisation, the inherent strategic Objectives, the operational Objectives and their enabling conditions.
To open the C.S.F. form, click in the homonym button in the FORMULATE ACTIONS FORM
CRITICAL SUCCESS FACTORS MANAGEMENT INDEX
<
<
<
< <
<
< INDEX

CAF 2020 - eTool
CAF 2020 - eTool
The Critical Success Factors can be further on declined in Key Performance Indicators to which assign a Target and
an Actual Value. Their difference give useful indications. With the PRINT command the table is printed in the edit envi-
ronment. The DIFFERENCE column has a conditional formatting that colours the cells in orange when it is negative.
INDEX
BALANCED SCORE CARD MANAGEMENT
<
<
< <
< INDEX

CAF 2020 - eTool
CAF 2020 - eTool
This is a simple PCM. In this grid it can be added/edited a project. In this grid they can be added/edited all the activities pro-
vided for the project and in this grid they can be added/edited all the budget voices provided for every project. It is also
available (for every project) the GANTT for the provided activities .It is possible to look at all the tables with the GRID com-
mand. The PLAN can be printed inside an edit environment in which it can be further edited. The following picture shows a
little part of it.
INDEX
PROJECT CYCLE MANAGEMENT
<
<
< INDEX

CAF 2020 - eTool
CAF 2020 - eTool
To insert the content, click a circular button and insert it in the textbox that appears. It is also shown a description of
what it has to be inserted. The goal of this PCM is only to have a fast way to draft one or more (simplified) projects ,
without any velleity to replace a professional one.
INDEX
PROJECT CYCLE MANAGEMENT
<
<
< INDEX

CAF 2020 - eTool
CAF 2020 - eTool
INDEX
The project can be printed inside an edit environment.
<
<
< INDEX

CAF 2020 - eTool
CAF 2020 - eTool
This is the overall view of projects, activities and budget, recallable with the previous GRID command.
INDEX
<
<
< INDEX

CAF 2020 - eTool
CAF 2020 - eTool
This form manages
the “Caf journey”.
The 10 buttons act
as switches that
turn on/off the
steps. They can be
inserted (N but-
tons) notes for
every step.
The U (undo) but-
tons turn off the
switches (from
higher order back
to lower one).
The PRINT com-
mand insert the
overall synthesis in
this textbox , that
can be saved
(SAVE button) in a
text file.
These buttons
show the descrip-
tion of every step
as the Caf bro-
chure.
INDEX
THE CAF JOURNEY MANAGEMENT
<
<
< INDEX

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CAF 2020 - eTool
With this utility that I have named
INPUTGLEE, that you can call
with this command, you can create
hierarchical graphs leveraging a po-
werful Microsoft library called
MSAGL . These graphs can be use-
ful to organize the Caf users’ acti-
vity.
INPUTGLEE
There are many visual tools that allow you to build hierarchical charts. There is no doubt that the desired result is achie-
ved but at the cost of considerable effort and with the serious limitation of the time available, which is usually not much.
It is more rational to leave these tasks to the machine, which can perform all the necessary optimizations, while leaving
the last word to the human operator. This is what INPUTGLEE does; GLEE (Graph Layout Execution Engine) was the
old name of MSAGL (Microsoft Automatic Graph Layout) a Microsoft library. The purpose of the software is to facilita-
te the input of nodes and their links. It is obvious that these relationships must be known in advance and the simplest way
to start the job is to draw them out with pen and paper, but regardless of their positioning in the graph, which instead
will be created by the underlying algorithm. The more is the number of nodes, the more you'll appreciate the help of the
MSAGL library.
INDEX
<
< INDEX

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INDEX

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The use of the images have some limitations:
Don’t insert too many images, otherwise the map
becomes somewhat confusing;
Choose small images, with dimensions of an icon
(48 x 48 – 128 x 128 – max 256 x 256);
Apart from that, the library is highly optimized and
allows you to create excellent graphics.
Tip – when you drag a node with more edges, these
seem to collapse into one. To avoid this, press the
shift keyboard key while dragging it. Furthermore,
the nodes position is updated.
INDEX

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CAF 2020 - eTool
ENABLERS
RESULTS
SYNYHESIS
WEAKNESSES
STRENGTHS
AREAS FOR
IMPROVE-
IDEAS FOR
IMPROVEMENT COLLATE IDEAS
FORMULATE
IMPROVEMENT
ACTIONS
CRITICAL
SUCCESS
FACTORS
ORGANISATION’s
STRATEGIC
QUICK WINS
KEY
IMPROVEMENT
ACTIONS LIST
PRIORITISATION
ACTION SHEET
RESULTS
SCORE
ENABLERS
SCORE SELF
ASSESSMENT
REPORT
CONSENSUS
CHARTS
CHARTS
INDICATORS
CHRONOLOGY
E-TOOL RELATIONS
BALANCED SCORE CARD
INDEX
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> >
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
< INDEX

CAF 2020 - eTool
CAF 2020 - eTool
THE ELABORATION PATH OF THE KEY IMPROVEMENT ACTIONS
IDEAS FOR
IMPROVEMENT
IDEAS FOR IM-
PROVEMENT
COLLATION
UNDER COMON
THEMES
AREAS FOR
IMPROVEMENT
ACTIONS
FORMULATION
ORGANISATION’s
STRATEGIC
OBJECTIVES
ACTIONS
SUBDIVISION
QUICK WINS
KEY
IMPROVEMENT
ACTIONS
KEY
IMPROVEMENT
ACTIONS
LIST
CONSTRUCTION
ACTIONS SHEET
PRIORITISATION
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> >
>
>
INDEX
< INDEX

CAF 2020 - eTool
CAF 2020 - eTool
RAW DATA SYNTHESIS
  WEAKNESSES
  STRENGTHS
  AREAS FOR IMPROVEMENT
  IDEAS FOR IMPROVEMENT
SCORE
CONSENSUS
IDEAS COLLATION
FOR THEME
ACTIONS
FORMULATION
KEY
IMPROVEMENT
ACTIONS
QUICK
WINS
PRIORITISATION
C.S.F.
FLOW DIRECTION
ASSOCIATION
COMMANDS / OPERATIONS
S.A.R.
INDEX

CAF 2020 - eTool
CAF 2020 - eTool
This clipboard represents a
dedicated space for every subcrite-
rion, easily recallable when it needs,
with the small button near the EXIT
button of every
form,
to insert all the notes that come in
mind during the work .
Clicking on a subcriterion button, a
pen picture appears to signal that it is
possible to insert the text (if you be-
gin to type it vanishes).
With the Print command you can
print a synthesis of all the notes inside
the edit environment.
You can use Microsoft Cortana (for
English (Australia, Canada, India, United
Kingdom), French (France), German
(Germany), Italian (Italy), Portuguese
(Brazil) , Spanish (Mexico, Spain) and
simplified Chinese languages. Press
the shortcut (Windows + H) on your
keyboard and this box appears
THE CAF CLIPBOARD
<
Click on the microphone icon, click inside and dictate the text.
INDEX

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CAF 2020 - eTool
You can also use
handwriting for
text and sketches, enabling it
with this option.
A stylus is more suitable than
mouse, because it can levera-
ge the features of the under-
neath graphic control.
You can select the color and
set the mode (Ink - selection)
and thickness
INDEX

CAF 2020 - eTool
CAF 2020 - eTool
It is useful to take fast annotations of the ideas that come in mind, through POST-IT labels. It
is possible to do such a thing inside the etool, clicking the small green button present in all
the forms. You can insert text or sketches, inside boxes , that can also be moved and resized.
The upper annotations command shows/hides the list of the textual notes. To insert a note
select an icon and the command bar is enabled.
INDEX
< INDEX
For the textual
notes you can
profitably leverage
the dictation
feature of the
same.
Remember that
the functionality of
dictation are
possible for all
parts of the
present Etool
where the text can
be inserted.

CAF 2020 - eTool
CAF 2020 - eTool
INDEX
PART 3—INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS
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INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS
There is not an installation phase, you have to download
the package of your interest, decompress it ( a .zip file)
in your system and then launch the “WpfCAF.exe” file
that you find in the folder that is created.
Prerequisites:
-Windows 10 O.S. ;
-It is mandatory to download and install a
Microsoft application called SQLLocalDB.msi that is
essential to manage the inner SQL database .
Please look at the “Startup instructions” that you
find at the end of the present tutorial.
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INDEX
APPENDIX A - SYNCHRONIZATION
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NOTES ABOUT THE SYNCHRONIZATION
One thing to bear in mind is the kind of work that is being
adopted. In general it can be of two types:
• standalone type, in which both the assessors that the
Admin operate on the same machine;
• operational autonomy, hence on different machines.
The latter is the one that will probably be adopted in most
cases, above all for flexibility reasons . Assuming to have cho-
sen this, there are some concepts that need to be clarified, in
order to operate in the more correct and effective way.
The working cycle of the SAG is carried out in two stages. In
the first, which could be defined as "private", each assessor
works in a private sphere, anywhere he wants to do it and with
any machine (assuming the Microsoft Windows Operating
System).
The second, instead, of "collegial” type, is managed by the
Admin, which is actually a fictitious figure, which may coincide
with an assessor, but also with the same SAG.
It is extremely important to clearly define the ways in which all
the individual contributions (from the assessors), merge into
one (the admin). (SEE ALSO NOTES AT THE END)
The Caf etool provides two current instruments for this proc-
ess:
a) The first is of explicit type and is the MERGE phase
b) The second is the mask COPY GRIDS called up from the
main screen.
-MERGE phase
It is implemented through the following steps:
a) EXPORT
-database and RTF FILES
The single assessor EXPORTS his/her own database (with the
homonymous command of the main form) also in XML(*) for-
mat, to which will be added a prefix, depending on the order
number ( "A_" for the assessor # 1, "B_" for the assessor # 2,
etc. until "L_" for the assessor # 10). Obviously the purpose is
to clearly identify they. The evidences' management makes
use, both of data belonging to the internal database, both
also of external data sources to it. These can be of various
kinds (text, images, tables, statistical graphs, and so on), and
the assessors should be in a position of being able to enter
the same. As these are external elements to the database, they
must remain external, but it has to be possible a form of syn-
chronization, which, by force of circumstances may not coin-
cide with those mentioned previously (in fact limited only to
the database). This synchronization makes use of ".rtf" format
files, produced by the contents of the RichTextBox of the mask
ENABLERS AND RESULTS MANAGEMENT. This in practice
constitutes a simple text editor, with basic formatting options
but with the possibility to insert graphics, images, tables, and
so on. RTF files are exported together with the database, but a
suffix (coinciding with the database prefix) is added.(*) XML
stands for eXtensible Markup Language and is a universal for-
mat, adopted for the exchange of data through all the plat-
forms. It is highly optimized and allows very fast operations.
INDEX
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Strategic planning of tasks
It is very important an advance planning of tasks in order for
an equitable distribution of the same among all the assessors.
In this way, each assessor will produce a number of ".rtf" files
to be transferred, as a result of the synchronization, in the
Admin system. However, there is the possibility (by several as-
sessors) of producing .rtf files about the same sub-criterion.
(See d) synchronization)
b) TRANSMISSION
Each assessor transmits his/her own database (in XML for-
mat) and the .rtf files to the Admin. It is an operation which,
obviously, can be done in various ways and is released by the
Caf etool. The Caf etool creates at this purpose a single com-
pressed file, which can be transmitted in a more smooth way.
c) AGGREGATION
After receiving the database and all the .rtf files, the Admin
must simply inserts they (aggregating they), in any of his/her
system folder.
If you adopt a shared folder on an Internet hosting service
files, this operation is automatic.
d) SYNCHRONIZATION has been unified and can be
managed inside a unique form. Click on
d1) MERGE phase
It is done with the homonymous command and
synchronizes the Admin database with those of the assessors.
During this operation, the synchronization of the RTF files is
also performed. (See end notes).
The .rtf files produced by different assessors, but dealing with
the same sub-criterion, are subjected to a MERGE operation in
that it is produced one .rtf file with the contents of these files,
appending the content in the order of the numbering of the
assessors . The Admin will eliminate redundant data and will
give it a final shape.
d2) COPY GRIDS
Please refer to the section of the Tutorial.
INDEX
>
INDEX

CAF 2020 - eTool
CAF 2020 - eTool
THE SYNCHRONIZATION CYCLE
The Caf etool has been designed
upon the idea that the Self Assess-
ment Group is an unitary entity,
though formed by the union of dis-
tinct sub-entities (the assessors).
With the synchronization mechanism,
the sub-entities, though operating
autonomously, share the same data.
The following is the circular schema
of the process.
CAF ADJUSTMENT
The Caf adjustment, previously
shown, makes the synchronization
procedure indispensable, as it is
(obviously) necessary to operate on
the same examples. The Admin after
the Caf adjustment (with the S.A.G.
collaboration), exports its own data-
base and the Assessors synchronize it
with theyr own.
INDEX
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CAF 2020 - eTool
SYNCHRONIZATION MECHANISM
Its necessity is connected to the operating modes, that are:
1. Standalone mode: the machine on which you work is
unique and in turn the assessors access it by acting on both
the "private" fields (the scores), than on "public" (all others).
2. Operational autonomy: each assessor works on a differ-
ent system (the Admin system can also be used by an asses-
sor).
The first mode, clearly, does not need any synchronization.
The second one, instead, imposes its use. The reasons, as ob-
vious, require further clarifications.
A database is composed of tables, not considering for simplic-
ity also other necessary entities. Each table consists of fields
(intersection between a row and a column), in which they fit
the specific information.
The CAF model provides that each assessor contributes to the
definition of the contents; these contributions will be further
on developed and defined by the figure called Admin. On the
other hand, each assessor also inserts data that must neces-
sarily be differentiated from those of the others (the scores).
Finally, looking to the nature of the data, we see that in part
they must be unique within the database.
To take account of this variety of content formation, the ap-
propriate technical choices have been done to differentiate,
then, the same synchronization.
Schematically, the synchronization is performed as follows:
1) SCORES
Limiting ourselves to a single table (there is one for
sub-criterion), the following occurs:
- There are 11 columns, 10 for the assessors and one for the
Admin
INDEX
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CAF 2020 - eTool
2) public data, which are formed by the contribu-
tions of each assessor (evidences, strengths, weak-
nesses, .....)
The situation is the following
The content of the FIELD (e.g. the first line of the column 9), in the
Admin’s database, is constituted by the content of such fields in the
database of each assessor, placed accordingly to the order number of
the same one. This will introduce ( of course) a certain redundancy to
the content, that the Admin must remove.
INDEX
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CAF 2020 - eTool
3) public data, but that must be UNIQUE in-
side the Admin database.
These are made up of all the TABLES that are
formed by filling the masks "Aggregation and
analysis of Enablers evidences" and
"Aggregation and analysis of Results evi-
dences." This uniqueness feature requires to
Admin figure, an advance planning of the as-
sessors' tasks, so that each assessor fills a num-
ber of tables that WILL REPLACE THE SAME
TABLE IN THE ADMIN’s DATABASE.
This will be done using the COPY GRIDS
command of the main screen.
The picture shows a possible example. For sim-
plicity, avoiding crossings, they are replaced
only two tables for single assessor .
INDEX
>
INDEX

CAF 2020 - eTool
CAF 2020 - eTool
4) Rich Text Files
They were introduced to take into ac-
count any data from EXTERNAL sources
to the database and that cannot be in-
serted in this, given their qualitative
and quantitative nature, not known
first.
They are considered within the data
type of point 2), which we refer for their
INDEX
S.A.G operates in a centric manner. All the (autonomously done) contributions
flow to the admin, that aggregates and synchronizes them. At the end the ad-
min transmits his/her own database and the assessors restore it in their own
system.
INDEX

CAF 2020 - eTool
CAF 2020 - eTool
ASSESSORS
ADMIN
—————————————
 DATA INTEGRATION
 DATA SYNCHRONISA-
TION
BACKUP
BACKUP
DATA
EXPORT
DATA
RESTORE
REDUNDANCY
Redundancy is of fundamental importance in the event of (accidental or malicious) loss of data.
The etool has different degrees of redundancy:
1) AUTOMATIC BACKUP
at the end of each work session an automatic backup is made in a specific folder, thus having a hi-
story of the same;
2) MANUAL BACKUP
with manual backup the data is saved in the folder you choose.
Operations 1) and 2) are related to a single assessor, so the redundancy grows linearly with their num-
ber.
RESTORE
The Restore function allows you to always have updated data.
INDEX

CAF 2020 - eTool
CAF 2020 - eTool
This etool is based on a relational database realized with Microsoft SQL. It is light in terms
of resources and can be saved as a unique file, so to be easily exchanged among the
S.A.G. .
The etool uses the database through the effective (although quite old) ADO.net tecnology; tables
are stored in the RAM, hence elaborated and then saved back into the database in a very fast
and transparent manner for the users. This software does a massive use of XML format (a univer-
sal one) for storing and exchange data.
The database has almost 130 tables, most of which are in hyerarchical relations, so to represent
the underneath logic model. The following picture shows an example of hyerarchical relation.
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CAF 2020 - eTool
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
ASSESSORS
EXPORT
DATA
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
ASSESSORS
EXPORT
DATA
ADMIN’s
database
WEAKNESSES—STRENGTHS—AREAS FOR IMPROVEMENT—
IDEAS FOR IMPROVEMENT— SCORES
ENABLERS / RESULTS (RAW DATA)
MERGE
COPY GRIDS
S
Y
N
C
H
R
O
N
I
S
A
T
I
O
N
SYNCHRONISATION—OVERALL DIAGRAM INDEX

CAF 2020 - eTool
CAF 2020 - eTool
INDEX
APPENDIX B :
“CAF 2020 eTool localization”
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CAF 2020 - eTool
The modern Programming Environments (like Micro-
soft Visual Studio 2022) provide very efficient in-
struments to accomplish the localization in any lan-
guage. In the case of Caf 2020 e-Tool what it needs is
the existing localized Caf model and only the transla-
tion of a single column of a single table (of three col-
umns). It has about six hundreds rows but a lot of it
must be filled with phrases or words taken from the
Caf model. The following is a small part of the local-
ization table for Russian language (for Caf 2013)
(made by Mr. Dmitry Maslov, national Caf correspon-
dent for Russia). Once the table is complete, it has to
be inserted in a special section of the software and
the interface for that language is ready. This is a work
of a few hours.
The second phase of the localization is to insert, in
several tables of the database, all the “examples” of
the already localized version of the Caf model.
Once all these translations are complete, the full lo-
calization will also be complete.
Full localisation of the application by yourself
In the next pages you find a way to fully localise the
application by youself.
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CAF 2020 - eTool
DIY LOCALISATION OPTION
The CAF model is already tran-
slated in about 20 languages.
The CAF etool is accordingly
translated (only the examples),
but at now the interface is fully
localised only for English, Ita-
lian and Polish.
You can now localise the inter-
face by yourself, inserting your
translation in this grid, that
you call with this command.
After you complete the transla-
tion you have to exit from the
application to persist the
Caf 2020 etool is regularly published on Caf-network.eu site, so if someone makes the translation in the above way, could send me
the .csv file of the same, that is created with the CSV command, so it’ll be updated for all the interested users. With the Adjustment and
localisation features (see pag. 11 and pag. 18) you can also localise the “examples” in your language, so to have a complete localisation
of the etool.
INDEX

CAF 2020 - eTool
CAF 2020 - eTool
CAF EXAMPLES
ADJUSTMENT
DIY INTERFACE
LOCALISATION
FULL LOCALISATION
DIY FULL LOCALISATION INDEX
With the CAF ADJUSTMENT and the DIY INTERFACE LOCALISATION you can fully localise the CAF
eTool in your language.

CAF 2020 - eTool
CAF 2020 - eTool
DICTATION
The new technology (Microsoft Cortana) is now available for desktop applications like the eTool. It works with Windows
10 and for English (Australia, Canada, India, United Kingdom), French (France), German (Germany), Italian (Italy), Portuguese (Brazil) , Spanish
(Mexico, Spain) and simplified Chinese languages. For the others languages you have to use Microsoft Speech Recognition
technology.
Press the shortcut (Windows + H) on your keyboard and this box appears on your screen
Click on the microphone icon and then click in a textbox inside the Caf etool, or inside the Caf clipboard or the edit en-
vironment, dictate the text with a microphone and it will be transcribed. It's a great convenience and facilitation.
I’m sure that in the future this will be extended to all the languages, but if you want leverage this feature also with the
others languages, there are other ways like the followings, though they have not the same flexibility.
Google docs
It is an excellent solution. If you open the eTool and at the same time you open a document in Google docs, it is possible
to dictate inside it and with a copy/paste you can transfer the content in the eTool textboxes.
You can also use your Android Smartphone to dictate in the same document opened both in it that in your personal com-
puter. At https://support.google.com/docs/answer/4492226?hl=it#zippy=%2Clanguages-that-work-with-voice-typing
you'll find the "tutorial" for dictations in Google Docs. Google dictation is available for almost every language, so it
doesn't suffer the Microsoft Cortana's limitations.
INDEX
INDEX

CAF 2020 - eTool
CAF 2020 - eTool
INDEX
APPENDIX C - WORKFLOW
INDEX

CAF 2020 - eTool
CAF 2020 - eTool
ENABLERS
1-Select an example with the navigation bar
2-Compile the textual boxes
3-Exit
—————————————————————————
RESULTS
This form is very articulated and before to begin, it needs to
work with others forms: the YEARS and the INDICATORS’
MANAGEMENT ones
· YEARS
1-Select the edit option
2-Select the first year with the list box
3-Exit
· INDICATORS’ MANAGEMENT
1-Select an example from the list
2-Change the default content (RESULT or INDICATOR)
with the one that you establish (there are up to fif-
teen indicators for every example).
3-Exit
RESULTS
A-Select an example from the list
1-Select an indicator from the navigation bar
2-Fill the Perception or Indicator results box
3-Insert measurement, target and comparison for the
year considered
4-Fill the summary box
5-Repeat the procedure for all the indicators
belonging to the example
B-Exit
RESULTS’ CHRONOLOGY
This is a read-only form. There are three master-details ta-
bles.
1-Click on a row in the first list (the examples) – it is shown
the inherent details table (the indicators)
2-Click on a row of indicators – it is shown the inherent de-
tails table with the values (measurement, target and
comparison ) for the three years considered and also a
chart.
—————————————————————————
SYNTHESIS
1-Select a subcriterion
They are shown the example list and the DATA in-
serted with the previous forms (ENABLERS and RE-
SULTS) in two read-only boxes
2-Insert, in the edit environment and for every subcrite-
rion, a synthesis. You can do copy paste from left to
right and insert also new external data (tables, pictures,
charts and so on)
3-Exit
INDEX
INDEX

CAF 2020 - eTool
CAF 2020 - eTool
REGISTER
1-Select a subcriterion (in the right side is shown the syn-
thesis previously inserted - it’s read-only)
2-Fill the four textual boxes (you can do copy paste from
right to left)
3-Collate the ideas for improvement under common
themes
4-Formulate the improvement actions
5-Exit
—————————————————————————
ENABLERS AND RESULTS’ SCORE
1-Select a subcriterion (small buttons)
Select a score range and select the score from the
lists for the four analysis dimension (PLAN-DO-
CHECK-ACT)
2-Select a criterion (large buttons) to see the score as-
signed by all the assessors.
3-Click the VALUES command to show the map of all the
score value for all the sub-criteria
4-Click the MAP to show the map of the examples involved
in every range score
5-Click the PRINT command to have the VALUES (voice c)
in a textual box, from which you can copy the content.
—————————————————————————
CONSENSUS MEETING
1-Select a subcriterion (small buttons)
2-Select an analysis dimension (PLAN-DO-CHECK-ACT-
TREND-TARGET-COMPARISON-COVERAGE)
The chart with the score given by all the assessors is
created and some simple statistics are shown at
the bottom of the form. Furthermore, you can set
the percentile for the boxplot chart. The chart and
these statistics will help the choice of the score to
assign collegially.
3-Select the score from the lists under the range scale. It
will be located inside one of the two tables depending
on whether we consider an Enabler o a Result.
4-Repeat the procedure until to fill the two tables.
5-With the PRINT command you can write the two tables
in a textbox, so you can copy the content for your
needs.
6-The REGISTER command call the homonymous form
that will help you to select the score.
7-The criterion buttons allow to show, for every criterion,
all the numeric values.
INDEX
INDEX

CAF 2020 - eTool
CAF 2020 - eTool
CHARTS
1– Select an option
2-Select a subcriterion to look the inherent bar chart
3-Click the STACKED BARS or RADAR commands to look
the same
4– Click the CAF RELATIONS command to look the same
—————————————————————————
CONTRIBUTION MERGING
1-The Admin puts the contributions received by the asses-
sors in a directory.
2-He/she select this directory and launches the command
MERGE to integrates all the contributions in the data-
base
SELF ASSESSMENT REPORT
Click the SELF ASSESSMENT REPORT command to create it
in the edit environment.
—————————————————————————
BACKUP
1-Select the BACKUP command
2-Select a directory to save the files
3-Exit
—————————————————————
————
RESTORE
1-Select the RESTORE command
2-Select the BACKUP directory
3-Wait for the restore procedure
4-When it is complete the application will be closed
—————————————————————————
COPY GRIDS
There are 28 lists, each of one contains the numbers from
1 to 10 (the assessors number)
1-Click a list (a subcriterion) and select the assessor num-
ber that will deal with that subcriterion
2-Repeat the action for each list
3-Launch the command COPY GRIDS
4-Exit
INDEX

CAF 2020 - eTool
CAF 2020 - eTool
PRIORITISATION
—————————————————————————
QUICK WINS – ACTION LIST
There are three vertical textual boxes: in the right you’ll
have the ACTION LIST automatically taken from the
S.A.R.
1-Launch the COPY ACTION LIST S.A.R. command and they
will be copied in the middle textbox
2-Cut and paste from the middle textbox to the left one the
actions that you consider QUICK WINS.
3-Exit
—————————————————————————
EIPAS’s APPROACH
1-Select the prioritisation mode (complete or concen-
trated)
2-Select a subcriterion from the list
3-COMPLETE MODE
Insert IMCC – IMST – IMIR - IMSR - LD – RN – SR –
PIM
4-CONCENTRATED MODE
Insert SW - EIM – PIM
5-Insert the possible chosen action
6-Print the values tables
7-Exit
PORTUGUESE APPROACH
There are three vertical textual boxes: in the right you’ll
have the ACTION LIST taken from the S.A.R. or from
QUICK WINS, accordingly with the chose option.
1-Select a TOPIC with the inherent option
2-Copy/paste from the right textbox to the left one (the as-
sessment team’s improvement suggestion)
3-Fill the middle textbox (the stakeholders suggestions)
4-Launch the SCORING or PLANNING command
5-Exit
· PORTUGUESE APPROACH – SCORING
1-Choise an option (an action)
2-Insert the impact, capacity, clients values with the lists
3-Fill the justifications for impact, scoring, clients
4-Exit
· PORTUGUESE APPROACH - PLANNING
For each action, called with the navigation buttons fill the
form.
INDEX
INDEX

CAF 2020 - eTool
CAF 2020 - eTool
FINNISH APPROACH
Click ACTION LIST command and it will be shown the same
taken from QUICK WINS form.
1-Insert the new actions (up to 25) to consider in the grid
on the right side.
2– Navigate the actions and assign a category to each one,
clicking on the buttons in the low-left side (there are 9
category to Select from)
3-With the MAP command, a categorization map of the
actions is shown (or hidden).
4-The action list is printed (with the PRINT command) in-
side an edit environment, where it can be further on
elaborated.
—————————————————————————
AUSTRIAN APPROACH
On the left there are the actions taken from the QUICK
WINS.
1-Based on its content you can fill the new actions list
2-Click the PRIORITISATION command to show the relative
form
3-Insert the prioritisation values in the INPUT field
4-Click in the PRIORITY header to order in ascending or de-
scending mode
5-Select the whole table clicking on the upper left corner
and copy (Ctrl + C) in the clipboard to export it.
SLOVAK APPROACH
On the left there are the actions taken from the QUICK
WINS.
1-Based on its content you can fill the new actions list
2-Click the PRIORITISATION command to show the relative
form
3-Click the SCORE PoE command to open the inherent
form
a.Select a subcriterion in the upper side
b.Assign a score for the eight principles of excellence
with the lists
c.Exit from the SCORE PoE form
4-the prioritisation form will be updated
5-they are shown :
a-the CAF score
b-the PoE score
c-the ICC index
d-the IpoE index
e-the total priority index according to the formula
Ip = 0,6*ICC + 0,4*IpoE
6-Click in the Ip header to order in ascending or descend-
ing mode
7-Select the whole table clicking on the upper left corner
and copy (Ctrl + C) in the clipboard to export it.
INDEX
INDEX

CAF 2020 - eTool
CAF 2020 - eTool
ITALIAN APPROACH
· WEAKNESSES
1-Select a subcriterion
2-Copy in the clipboard a weakness (Ctrl + C)
3-Paste it in the inherent textbox (RECURRENT – STRATEGIC
– OPERATIONAL)
4-PRINT the synthesis
5-Exit
· INITIATIVES
1-Select an option (an initiative)
2-Fill the four textbox
3-Assign the values for impact and feasibility
4-Fill the action sheet for each initiative
5-Print the action list and the synthesis
6-Exit
· CRITICAL SUCCESS FACTORS ANALYSIS
1-Insert Vision and Mission of the organisation, the inher-
ent strategic Objectives, the operational Objectives and
their enabling conditions
2-Establish the CRITICAL SUCCESS FACTORS
· CRITICAL SUCCESS FACTORS
1-Click on a subcriterion
2-For each established CSF assign the importance value
(1/2/3)
3-Call the global view of CSF
4-Call the importance/value chart
5-Exit
INDEX

CAF 2020 - eTool
CAF 2020 - eTool
INDEX
CONCLUSIONS
The aim of this work is to give to Caf users an instrument to
manage the data that itself asks. It has a pyramidal structure,
that is, data pass through several elaborations, each based on
the previous one.
At the end of a session path it is automatically created the fi-
nal document of the Self Assessment Report.
The prioritisation phase is also considered, with some tools
that help the user to easily tackle it. These tools have different
implementation, in relation to the approach adopted by each
Country.
The Caf e-Tool has the following features:
• It allows the assessors to autonomously work on their
own machine and easily share the results among the S.A.G. ,
through an exportation procedure , a synchronization one and
the final integration of data by the Admin figure;
• All the textual elaborations are done inside the inner ba-
sic word processor, but it is possible to transfer the content
on other professional one to further on elaborate it;
• The Consensus is facilitated with synthesis
charts and the scores’ tables can be easily filled
with the help of simple statistics and other data previously
elaborated;
• It produces several kind of charts that show the values of
all the numerical data treated;
 It can be easily adopted both for Administrations that
Educational Institutions;
 It creates many summary documents that will facilitate
the Caf model implementation.
 It can be easily localized in any language, as shown in an-
other appropriate project prototype.
The work is based on a personal motivation, which excludes
any other.
Salvatore
INDEX
INDEX

CAF 2020 - eTool
CAF 2020 - eTool
STARTUP INSTRUCTIONS
Download the package of your interest
extract the compressed .zip file in your system (I recommend the desktop)
launch (double click) the “WpfCAF.exe” file that you find at the bot-
tom in the folder that is created. It’s recommended to create a link
and put it in the Desktop (Right click —> New —> Send to Desktop) to
launch this command, to avoid to accidentally delete or damage this
important file.
Follow the tutorial
Contacts: spampinato55@gmail.com
Prerequisites:
-Windows 10 O.S. ; for older O.S. versions it has to be accordingly adapted the inner SQL database;
-It is mandatory to download and install a Microsoft application called SQLLocalDB.msi that is essential to
manage the inner SQL database.
Please look next page to do it.
INDEX

CAF 2020 - eTool
CAF 2020 - eTool
HOW TO DOWNLOAD AND INSTALL THE SQLLocalDB.msi file
Inside the folder of the package there is the LOCALDB folder
And inside it there are the subfolders named 2016, 2017, 2019 ;
they rispectively contain the SqlLocaldDB.msi applications version of those same years, that, once
launched intall the same in your system.
If you have a new system you can install the 2019 version, but sometime it doesn’t work, that is when
you
launch the Caf etool the main form is regularly shown but when you call another form, it take several
seconds to elaborate but suddenly is closed, without any messagge. If so, please uninstall the
SqlLocaldDB.msi and install the 2017 version. For older PC it’s possible that only the 2016
version works.
INDEX

CAF 2020 - eTool
CAF 2020 - eTool
CAF 2020 eTool
HOW TO OPERATE
INDEX
INDEX

CAF 2020 - eTool
CAF 2020 - eTool
ASSESSORS’ NUMBER ASSIGNMENT
ADMIN
INDEX
INDEX

CAF 2020 - eTool
CAF 2020 - eTool
INSERT RAW DATA
EVERY ASSESSOR INSERTS RAW DATA FOR HIS/HER ESTABLISHED SUBCRITERIONS (BY
THE ADMIN), FOR ENABLERS AND/OR RESULTS
(EVIDENCES – DATA AND INFORMATIONS OBTAINED FROM THE QUESTIONNAIRE - DATA AND INFORMATIONS
OBTAINED FROM THE INTERVIEW)
INDEX
A
INDEX

CAF 2020 - eTool
CAF 2020 - eTool
MAKE A SUMMARY
EVERY ASSESSOR MAKES A SUMMARY
RAW DATA SUMMARY
INDEX
INDEX

CAF 2020 - eTool
CAF 2020 - eTool
STRENGHTS – WEAKNESSES - AREAS FOR IMPROVEMENT -
IDEAS FOR IMPROVEMENT
BASED ON THE SUMMARY EVERY ASSESSOR ESTABLISHES THE STRENGHTS –
WEAKNESSES - AREAS AND IDEAS FOR IMPROVEMENT
SUMMARY
- STRENGHTS
- WEAKNESSES
- AREAS FOR IMPROVEMENT
- IDEAS FOR IMPROVEMENT
INDEX
INDEX

CAF 2020 - eTool
CAF 2020 - eTool
SCORE ASSIGNMENT
EVERY ASSESSOR ASSIGNS A SCORE TO HIS/HER SUBCRITERIONS, FOR
ENABLERS AND/OR RESULTS
INDEX
A
INDEX

CAF 2020 - eTool
CAF 2020 - eTool
EXPORTING DATA
EVERY ASSESSOR EXPORTS HIS/HER DATABASE IN A
COMPRESSED FOLDER THAT TRANSMITS TO THE ADMIN
ADMIN
INDEX
INDEX

CAF 2020 - eTool
CAF 2020 - eTool
DATA SYNCHRONIZATION
THE ADMIN AGGREGATES THE EXPORTED DATA AND
DECOMPRESS THEM IN A FOLDER, THEN HE/SHE
LAUNCHES THE SYNCHRONIZATION COMMAND
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
FOLDER
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
THEY ARE SYNCHRONIZED :
STRENGHTS – WEAKNESSES - AREAS
AND IDEAS FOR IMPROVEMENT -
SCORES
INDEX
INDEX

CAF 2020 - eTool
CAF 2020 - eTool
INDEX
INDEX

CAF 2020 - eTool
CAF 2020 - eTool
RAW DATA SYNTHESIS
WEAKNESSES
STRENGTHS
AREAS FOR IMPROVEMENT
IDEAS FOR IMPROVEMENT
SCORE
CONSENSUS
IDEAS COLLATION
FOR THEME
ACTIONS
FORMULATION
KEY
IMPROVEMENT
ACTIONS
QUICK
WINS
PRIORITISATION
C.S.F.
FLOW DIRECTION
ASSOCIATION
COMMANDS / OPERATIONS
S.A.R.
INDEX
INDEX

CAF 2020 - eTool
CAF 2020 - eTool
IDEAS FOR IMPROVEMENT - COLLATION FOR THEME
IDEAS FOR IMPROVEMENT
COLLATION FOR THEME
REGISTER
INDEX
INDEX

CAF 2020 - eTool
CAF 2020 - eTool
FORMULATE IMPROVEMENT ACTIONS
AREAS FOR
IMPROVEMENT
REGISTER CRITICAL SUCCESS FACTORS
ORGANISATION’s
STRATEGIC
OBJECTIVES
IDEAS FOR
IMPROVEMENT
COLLATED
FOR THEME
IMPROVEMENT ACTIONS
- ACTION 1
- ACTION 2
- ACTION 3
....................
- ACTION n
INDEX
INDEX

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