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Best Working Environment Award in the Kingdom

News from source 

Mr Alarifi, Finance and Administration Manager reveals to "Al-Eqtisadia" newspaper the secrets that contributed to the excellence of "Al-Elm for Information Security"

 

·         "Work Security", "Psychological Stability" and "Teamwork"… are the secrets of our excellence

·         "Qualification", "Continuous Training" and "Complying with the Labor Law"… are the secrets of our quality

·         An employee's entire rights represent the basis for management quality, committement to work, and continuous development.

·         10 information services have led to a big leap in the performance of governmental authorities, private sector and individuals.

·         70 million electronic processes only in five years… This is a clear evidence of our the massive production the company can produce.

·         Full health insurance for the employees, their families and their parents, in addition to getting a share of the company's annual profits and joining a sporting club are all features presented by "Al-Elm for Information Security" to its employees.

·         Establishing the greatest national institutioni for safe electronic works could never be achieved except by establishing trained & qualified human resources.

·         "Al-Elm for Information Security" is an environment that attracts the Saudi scientific qualifications as well as distinctive experts.

Al-Elm Information Security Company Team

It has been declared that "Al-Elm for Information Security", a pioneer governmental company working in the field of secure electronic works, has obtained the award of the best labor environment in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia offered by "Al-Eqtisadia" newspaper, in addition to occupying the fifth rank among the greatest Saudi companies, and this declaration came along with the development efforts that "Al-Elm for Information Security" does perform, and the plans that have been executed to develop and qualify the human resources in order to increase the efficiency of the performance and work quality, plus creating a suitable work environment that helps achieve the continousness of the development of the abilities of each employee working at "Al-Elm for Information Security" and promoting work performance within a proper work environment.

If we reviewed the stages which "Al-Elm for Information Security" has gone through since the company launched its new vision in the first quarter of 2002 until the company occupied the award for the fifth rank for the Best work Environment in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, we would find that the company managed to achieve a specific leap in its performance, a distinct quality of its products, in addition to achieving its strategic aims that are set to be achieved in the field of electronic business. Also, the company managed to implement its vision in relation to |establishing the greatest national institution for secure electronic works" to be a matter of fact. Also, inventing distinct services in the field of secure electronic works and presenting such services to the clients in a consistent way help them to achieve their objectives, improve the national experiences, and contribute in the nationalization of the information technology, while, at the same time, abiding by "Al-Elm Values" that emenate from the compan's principles, form its vision, and put the client's benefita at the top of our list of priorities.

In the light of figures and statistics, that "Al-Elm for Information Security" has achieved during, only, the five years from the launch of the new vision, we will understand the amount of works achieved and services rendered, in quantity and in quality, to the clients, either in governmental sectors, private organizations or firms, or for individuals. "Al-Elm for Information Security" has produced more than ten fundamental services and did perform around 70 million electronic processes till 2006 A.D, so it achieved a great leap from year to another, as it started with 400.000 electronic processes in 2002 A.D, then increased this number to 1 million electronic processes during the following year, and then reached 6 million electronic processes during 2004 A.D. This number has increased greatly to reach 17 million processes during 2005 A.D then to the record of 45 million processes during 2006 A.D. So, the total electronic processes performed is about 70 million processes during the last five years.

This leads us to ask about the Healthy Work Environment which helped achieve this level of performance and the development of the employees of the company. And what about the situation inside the firm and the mechanism ruling the employees' performance?! Also, to which extent did harmony prevail among the company's employees, reflecting, at the end, in the overwhelming teamwork spirit, dominance of mutual work values and commitment in performance?! Is the role of the company limited to the materialistic aspect of its employees or it does exceed that aspect to the social, entertainment and development aspects?! Also, what is the relation between "Al-Elm for Information Security" employees in relation to employees' rights and the open climates that help creation and clarifying the skills and abilities to absorp and develop?! To get the answers for these questions and other questions, we had this conversation with Mr. Mohamed Bin Ibrahim Alarifi, Financial Manager and the Managing Director of "Al-Elm for Information Security". Here is the conversation:

- A Great Competition -

·            Firstly, we asked Mr. Alarifi: What does gaining "Al-Eqtisadia" Award as the best healthy work Environment, mean to you, being the person responsible for the employees of  "Al-Elm for Information Security"? 
 

Mr. Mohammed Alaraifi Finance and Administration Manager

-        Work Environment -

·         Was the philosophy of providing a healthy work environment in companies a strategic target or what?  

o        Providing a healthy work environment for the employees of "Al-Elm" is a major part of the company's strategic system. We have agreed that providing a suitable work environment to employees, Psychological Stability, plus the continuous measurement of performance, motivating the producers, and granting more chances for growth and leadership being part and parcel of the work performance and the motivation to produce, get more continuous training and development in addition to attracting the national abilities qualified in the field of business of the company. The employee who perceives attraction factors from his company, enjoys comfort, and who gets the challenges that suit him, sure will be more productive in his work and will have more desire to get more development. This is what we care for. And I think that we exerted every effort, from the very beginning of the company, to achieve it. We, periodically, ask employees about their opinions and their suggestions concerning many major strategic decisions, like forming the vision and mission of the company, where all employees got a part..

The firm makes four kinds of  evaluations for the employee, that are called the (360) evaluation. The first evaluation is made every six months to measure the employee performance by his manager. The second evaluation is an annual evaluation for administrations and departments managers, in which the employees evaluate their managers. The third evaluation, that we think is very important, in this evaluation the employees evaluate themselves in a climate dominated by frankness. In addition, an annual evaluation to recognize the employees satisfaction and any comments and suggestions they might have about the work environment. This evaluation is done via a survey that is analysed. All of these evaluations, generally speaking, are beneficial to both the company and the employee.  Finally, how does the clients of the company see the final product, which in turn is caused by the abilities and leaderships of the employees used by the compay to achieve these products, and how satisfied are they?

-        - Superior Services -

·         Did the suitable work environment has a central role in the productive services of the company?

o        This is an important fact. We abide by delivering the highest levels of quality in performing high level services to meet the requirements of our clients, and even exceed their exceptions, so that we can establish the greatest national organization for electronic works. Employees in "Al-Elm for Information Security" as they are one of the bases of the company. If there is any defect in this base, the defect will hit the whole system. Thus, we do care for our employees and the work environment, which is reflected in the performance, quality, efficiency, continuous training, understanding and interaction, especially that we are a company working in very important fields that affects our society. This forces us to create a good work environment which grants our employees the required confidence, and hold them responsible for any sortcomings being the most important assets of the company.

- Administrations and Responsibilities -

·         The seven administrations of "Al-Elm for Information Security" integrate to achieve the strategic vision, what about the climates that link the employees in these administrations?

o        Before speaking about the seven administrations and their essential tasks, I'd like to mention that the system of work, which links the employees in the administrations, is built upon cooperation of high professionalism while exchanging thoughts, in a way that benefits the company and helps develop it, in addition to achieveing social and family unity. We work as one family where limits are known and opinions are respected. And we work according to the same work system to achieve one strategy. As for the seven administrations of the company are: first, the Projects and Business Development Administration, this administration is the corner stone of most of "Al-Elm" projects. Its mission is to find new thoughts for products and projects and develop these projects. Second, the Business Solutions Administration, which sells, provides and exhibits our products, as solutions for both the public and private sectors. Third, the Products and Operation Administration, which concentrates on observing the products life cycle in the company, since they are approved as projected, and till they are produced in the form of products.        Fourth, the Information Technology Administration, which is divided into two branches, the first one is for development, with is charged with the development of secure technical solutions. The second branch is the operating one, which is charged with operating the developed projects. Fifth, the Marketing Administration, which is charged with marketing the services of the company commercially, to make them reach the largest number possible of clients. Six, the Financial and Administation department, whose objective is to care for everything that may support the managing or the financial aspect, that are necessary for success in the rest of the administrations. It handles the human resources processes, including planning, attracting, employment, training, evaluation, observing and managing all the employees' needs. Also, this administration includes the Legal Affairs and Contracts unit. Seven, the Planning and Strategy unit, which is charged with performing the plans set by the top management, and setting the proper strategy for every stage for the company, in addition to observing implimenation and the specific quality, while analyzing the performance indicators and give reports about how to improve them.

-        Rights and Duties -

·         Attraction factors for capable calibers, epically in a very important and strategic field like yours, requires providing advantages that make the employee feel "stable' and make the qualified calibers seek to join the company. What are these factors that you have provided for the employees?

o        There are many factors through which the main fundamentals that are provided to all employees are achieved, including the right of "Training and Education" which is a right for all while they are working in order to be qualified for more accuracy, and quality, and give the employee the freedom to perform and create and develop his performance so that he can prove his own skills in a better way and to give more productivity. Besides, the employee respects the importance of time, and attendance, as he himself monitors this process, to achieve his bi-yearly objectives. The company also provides atmosphere that increases the productivity of the employee and his commitment to the tasks he is to do. As there are tasks and responsibilities for the employee to do in a perfect way, he also has his rights that he should get to be able to perform his function in a professional way. That is why "Al-Elm" has exerted every effort to guranttee the best ways of dealing to their employees, in a positive and attractive environment that provides him with all the information that is required to do his job, while being aware of the picture required to improve work to more advanced levels.

-        Justice and Continuation -

·         The healthy work environment is the one that has the "justice" factor overwhelming between the employees, which is, of course, a relative issue. How did you manage to achieve this quotation?

o        Justice of treatment is an essential part of the work system. All "Al-Elm" employees are being treated under the umbrella of justice and equality in a way that serves the company objectives and mission and produce stability. The employee's guaranteed rights can be taken are they are, and on time, and in accordance with the conditions agreed upon. We also work to achieve continuous functional development and assure it as one of the fixed employee rights according to the plan of the company to guarantee the continuation of work and attract the calibers, and to establish long-term relations with the employee.

-        Comfort and Security -

·         What is your view about social security for the employees under work climates that may be strict in most cases?

o        The employees' social security is deeply related to his functional security and psychological stability. If there is a suitable work environment, that is attractive to the scientific qualified human calibers, and who have sufficient courage for creation and development, stability would be found. This is a very important issue to "Al-Elm". In addition, the company tries to build a long-term relation with the productive employee. And in this respect, the company is committed to provide comfort for him and for his family, and career security. So, the company does expect the employee to be committed to achieve the objectives of the company and to do his best to make these objectives real.

This is not every thing, as the company adopted a distinct style, where any employee who may be forced to resign because of certain circumstances or for various reasons, an interview is conducted with him to know the reasons that made him leave the company, are there any other factors that made him resign to be avoided, or it is simply that the attraction factors in other business is better.

-        The Advantages…  And Rights -

·         What about the advantages the company provides to the employee?

o        We say not advantages, but legal rights for creating a suitable work environment. The employee has to obtain a financial return that matches his qualifications and skills and makes him feel comfortable. We have an annual increase system which guarantees the financial development for the employee, giving them the chance to have a better future according to the financial performance of the company. So, the employee gets a share of the profits according to the system of sharing a part of the firm profits with the employees as defined by the Board of Directors in the company. There is also the "advance payment" program which has a very clear policy. Also, there is a new system for leaves, in adiition to a distinct medical insurance system for the employee, his family and parents that matches his position, and the free of charge care insurance application and gaining a practical and scientific training in the field of his work, and all these rights are done in a climate of transparency and frankness between all. Also, the company adopts the open door policy in debates and discussions, which is counted as the essential motive for creating climates of mutual trust between all.

-        The Social Club -

·         Are there out of work programs to collect employees and create intimation between them?

The company activites for employees

-        Work Code of Conduct-

·         "Al-Elm for Information Security" has set other regulations to its employees that resemble an unwritten code of conduct, with which the employees abide, we would like to shed light on these traditions?

o        The employees of any company has the right to agree on specific traditions between them, and the company expects that all employees observe these traditions. Here in "Al-Elm" we have seven fundamental points that look like an unwritten code of conduct between the employees, as follows: Respect time during work hours and in attendance, collective responsibility spirit, teamwork, experience cascading, perfect production, work efficiency, initiative and creation, caring for the company's properties and policies, and making excellent work relations between colleagues.

·         How did the employees in the company react to news that the company occupied the fifth position in the best work environment in the Kingdom award?

o        That piece of news had a lot to do on everyone, and there is a kind of challenge for occupying the first position, God Willing, especially that we have the systems and the environments that qualify us for it. This challenge is more than being a winner, it is part of our continuous endeavors to improve the environment that distinguishes "Al-Elm", that serves the employees, the company and our country.

·            What are your future ambitions as a company?

o        Our company's ambitions have no borders, our achievements in the last years were part of a planned system, that we started and achieved our expected successes. But we still seek more production and more quality. We have now ten services, "Yaqeen", "Moqeem", Tam", "Travel Visa", "Notification", "Shumoos" and the "electronic connection services", which include the following: Health insurance and periodical examination, "international licenses services", "pilgrimage permits", "minor pilgrimage gate", and the company has tens of thoughts being studied, and a lot of projects which will, soon, come to light and all will see quality and the distinctive services in them.