DUBAI: Dubai Customs has announced that its Suggestion and Reward Scheme (SRS) has received over than 16 thousand ideas and innovations from employees steered towards developing Customs work since the system was first introduced until the second half of 2015. DC stated that the in-house developed system, which is integrated with the Unified Suggestions System of Dubai Government has reaped 41 elite international and national awards in the niche of innovation and ideas. Recently crowned with three IDEAS Arabia 10th International Conference 2015 Awards, DC became the department of government innovation in 2015 par excellence. The acclaimed IDEAS Arabia awards are the Grand Award of the Year for its Smart Audit system, the Best Suggestions System, and the best suggestions System Manager Award.
The announcement was made during a visit by a delegation from Dubai Government Human Resources Department to Dubai Customs Suggestions & Complaints Section at the Strategy and Corporate Excellence Department. The visit was aimed at learning from Dubai Customs experience in developing the SRS system.
Hussein Al Fardan, Director of the Suggestions and Complaints Section, presented a comprehensive review on the DC’s experience in developing the system, stressing Dubai Customs’ keenness on implementing the submitted ideas and innovations and integrating them within the existing work paradigms and structures. He also highlighted the DC’s approach in putting these ideas to the test through conducting pilot phases within limited work parameters, then if proved efficient they are transformed into in-house work processes, systems and devices, in order to be integrated within the Dubai Customs’ work structure.
The Department’s approach stems from the directives of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, as per his visionary quote: “ We all have dreams, but only a leader can change these dreams to reality. We all take risks in life, but do you know what is the biggest risk? Of not taking risks at all.”
It has been also highlighted that DC’s Leadership Team headed by H.E Ahmed Mahboob Musabih, Dubai Customs Director, has already set out and adopted an official mechanism for dealing with employee suggestions; by utilizing innovation as the cornerstone for Dubai Customs’ strides towards performance development. It is noteworthy, that DC had further forged its efforts ahead of incubating and harnessing novel innovations. An “Innovation Managers Team” was formed of 10 members out of the outstanding employees pool, supported by 47 members’ of the “Innovation Ambassadors Team” whom are distributed around all customs bodies. The aim of this move is to encourage the DC’s human capital to breed more innovative ideas and follow up on their realization.
The visiting delegation expressed their immense and profound admiration for Dubai Customs journey in developing the Suggestions System, while reiterating the need for cascading this experience to other government agencies.
