Development of Demonstration Companies
Development of Demonstration Companies
Embedded Files
About the DMP
About the DMP
Rationale
Rationale
Productivity enhancement at firm and organizational level with practical, continuous application of improvement initiatives is a critical driver of sustainable growth and long-term socioeconomic progress. Hence, it is necessary to support the development of productivity practitioners and model companies/ organizations to ensure continued productivity improvement.
Background
Background
The APO Development of Demonstration Companies (DMP) Program provides members with unique opportunities to apply practical skills and knowledge of productivity concepts, tools, and technologies in all sectors. Through demonstration companies/organizations, best practices in and success stories of the development and implementation of productivity improvement initiatives are disseminated to others. The DMP Program contributes to the creation of experienced productivity practitioners who share their knowledge to support the productivity movement.
Demonstration companies/organizations serve as catalysts by sharing their experience. This program also helps NPOs develop the ability to manage their own demonstration/model initiatives through involvement in all stages of DMP projects. The program impacts overall productivity enhancement in implementing members and beyond through dissemination of the successful experiences of model companies/organizations.
Scope
Scope
Establish demonstration companies/organizations for applications of productivity concepts, tools, and techniques on topics related to the APO Vision 2025 such as sustained productivity growth, Green Productivity, robust innovation ecosystems, inclusive engagement, shared prosperity, and other topics meeting the needs of member economies.
Objectives
Objectives
Develop model companies/organizations to apply productivity concepts, tools, techniques, and methodologies; share experiences, gains, and successes at the company/organizational level in the implementing member and other APO member economies; and serve as a benchmark or reference model of specific productivity improvement efforts.
Topics
Topics
A broad range of topics to meet the needs of members for practical solutions at the company/organizational level and the goals and objectives under the APO Vision 2025 to promote inclusive, innovation-led productivity improvement where more segments of the economy and society are included in national productivity drives.
Outcomes
Outcomes
Increased organizational capacity of participating companies/ organizations to achieve their goals through the application of productivity tools/techniques and dissemination of their experience to other APO members.
Qualifications
Qualifications
Representatives of public and private organizations, with priority given to those from SMEs.
Duration
Duration
The maximum project duration is 6 months for stage 1, which may be followed, if necessary, by stage 2 for 3 months, with both implemented in the virtual and/or face-to-face modality. Stage 2 should start with a gap of up to 6 months after completion of stage 1.
Application Process
Application Process
Application requirements
Application requirements
1. Letter of request addressed to the DAP President
The letter must be signed by the head of agency/organization or authorized official, along with a short background.
This will provide the basis or rationale for the request for demonstration project. APO Tokyo will decide on the basis of this and usually looks at longer-term strategic programs implemented in cooperation with the DAP as the NPO;
2. Filled out DMP Application Form
Submission of application
Submission of application
DMP application should be submitted through DAP being the NPO. If the application is submitted by an organization or a company other than DAP, the APO must receive an endorsement of the application from the APO Liaison Officer or DAP. The application will neither be processed nor acknowledged by APO until it receives such an endorsement.
The APO Tokyo requires lead time for arrangements and preparations: up to two months for a virtual activity and three months for a face-to-face activity.
All application requirements must be submitted via email to the APO/DAP Secretariat at apodapsec@dap.edu.ph
Deadline for submission
Deadline for submission
Closing Date: 31 March 2025
Review of application
Review of application
Applications will be reviewed immediately after receipt by the APO/DAP Sec. The APO/DAP Sec will coordinate with the organizations' representative to request for more information or clarify details in the application, if necessary.
Endorsement of application to APO
Endorsement of application to APO
Once the closing date for submission is reached, the APO/DAP Sec shall process all applications received for Technical Deliberation by the NPO Screening Committee. Applications that pass the NPO screening will be endorsed to APO Tokyo for final deliberation by the APO Screening Committee. Under normal circumstances, the result of the screening is released within four weeks after the closing date for submission.
Notification of screening result
Notification of screening result
The APO Tokyo shall inform DAP of the successful applicants through email. The APO/DAP Sec shall communicate the result to the proponent organization via email. Non-successful applicants shall likewise be notified by DAP through email.
Financial Arrangements and Requirements (if approved)
Financial Arrangements and Requirements (if approved)
The following financial arrangements are applicable for both virtual and face-to-face modalities:
To be shouldered by APO:
To be shouldered by APO:
All assignment costs of overseas resource persons including honoraria for the virtual and face-to-face modality as well as airfare and daily subsistence allowance for the face-to-face modality (stages 1 and 2).
Honorarium for one local resource person (stages 1 and 2).
Up to USD10,000.00 for dissemination-related activities (documentation, production of training manuals and dissemination materials, dissemination events, etc.). The budget details are explained in individual project implementation plans (PIPs) (stage 1).
If necessary, financial support for acquiring goods/services in implementing the improvement plan agreed upon by the resource person, NPO, and APO (stage 1) will be provided at a maximum of 10% of the total cost or USD5,000.00, whichever is lower. The Secretariat will examine the appropriateness of the proposed goods/services for acquisition under the financial support of the APO prior to disbursement. The detailed processes and requirements will be described in the PIPs.
Interpretation/translation costs if necessary (stages 1 and 2).
To be shouldered by NPO (DAP):
To be shouldered by NPO (DAP):
Expenses for coordinating and implementing projects under DMP.
Expenses for dissemination-related activities that are not covered by the APO. The budget details are explained in individual PIPs.
To be shouldered by recipient organization (demo company/organization):
To be shouldered by recipient organization (demo company/organization):
Expenses for logistic arrangements, including the local travel costs of the resource persons and expenses for interpretation.
Costs associated with the purchase, installation, operation, and maintenance of equipment, if any.
All other expenses not covered by the APO and NPOs.
Expense reimbursement and project postponement/cancellation
Expense reimbursement and project postponement/cancellation
With regard to the local implementation costs for dissemination activities, 50% of the APO share can be advanced after the PIP is issued.
With regard to the financial support for acquiring goods/services, 50% of the APO share can be advanced after agreement among the resource person(s), implementing organization(s), and APO Secretariat on the improvement plan.
Prior the reimbursement of the financial support for acquiring goods/services, the Secretariat will assess the suitability of the proposed goods/services for acquisition specified on the improvement plan. Upon the assessment, the APO Secretariat will prepare the agreement or contract document explaining the terms and conditions of the financial support to be signed by all parties involved. The specific processes and requirements will be outlined in the PIPs.
The remainder of both local implementation costs and financial support will be reimbursed after the completion and submission of the final project outputs together with the necessary supporting documents under the applicable APO rules and regulations for the disbursement of project expenses. The final reimbursement for financial support is also based on the assessment of the implementation of the improvement plan.
The implementing organization(s) is requested to provide all necessary original copies of proof of payment to the APO Secretariat at one time no later than three months after the dissemination event(s) is conducted. The proof of payment, such as bills, payment records, and receipts, should be issued by third parties and written in clear English or with an English translation if not originally in English. An overall list of expenses categorized based on purpose for the production of dissemination materials or holding a dissemination event(s) should be also provided to the APO Secretariat (see Examples of Expense Categorization in the table below).
The final payment will be made based on the actual expenditure after the implementing organization(s) submits all necessary documents. Internal evidence by the implementing organization(s) including NPOs is not accepted as proof of payment and the expenses claimed by it will not be reimbursed.
In case of a cancellation after the issuance of the Letters of Assignment to a resource person(s), all costs associated with the cancellation should be met by the party responsible.
Implementation Policies
Implementation Policies
Selection
Selection
Applications are reviewed immediately after receipt by APO Tokyo. Consideration for approval will include assessments of clear, tangible benefits and impact of the projects for member economies. Submission of DMP application does not guarantee selection and acceptance by APO Tokyo.
Appointment of Coordinator
Appointment of Coordinator
Organizations receiving DMP shall assign a staff member to be closely involved in all stages of the implementation of the DMP project. This is intended to encourage the staff to understudy the resource person(s) and ensure follow-up actions after departure of the resource person(s) (for the face-to-face modality) and/or after the completion of virtual sessions. The coordinator is expected to perform the following:
Virtual Modality
Coordinate technical preparations for the digital platform to be used for the DMP sessions.
Provide information related to the project as requested by APO Secretariat or Resource Persons.
Face-to-face Modality
Arrange local transportation for the resource person, workshop venue, and other logistic arrangements.
Provide information related to the project as requested by APO Secretariat or Resource Persons.
Guide the resource person while engaged for the duration of the project (e.g. airport/hotel transfer, scheduling, courtesy visit with NPO/high-level officials).
Project Implementation Plan (PIP)
Project Implementation Plan (PIP)
Based on the approved proposal and consultation with applying member countries, a project implementation plan (PIP) will be developed as the main reference for the implementation of the project. Upon completion of the project, the APO Secretariat will issue a certificate to the demonstration company(ies)/organization(s). The project will be conducted in the following three stages:
Stage 1: Implementation (up to 6 months)
The resource person(s) analyzes the challenges and opportunities related to productivity through a diagnostic survey of the demonstration company(ies)/organization(s).
The resource person(s) proposes an improvement plan and obtains a consensus on a mutually agreeable action plan and number and duration of consultations.
The resource person(s) implements the approved improvement plan, such as training, capacity building, modification of existing practices, development of new processes, and applications of new technologies, management tools, and productivity improvement methods.
If financial support from the APO is required to implement the improvement plan, a letter of commitment or contract signed by the demonstration companies/organizations and NPO to ensure proper use of the funds to achieve the intended objectives will be issued based on the approved improvement plan.
The resource person(s), implementing organization(s), and APO Secretariat communicate to review the diagnosis and progress and recommend ways to resolve problems or administrative bottlenecks faced.
The resource person(s), implementing organization(s), and APO Secretariat review and evaluate the results of the project to determine whether the objectives have been achieved.
The implementing organization(s) takes the lead in planning, preparing, and conducting dissemination activities, ensuring multiplier effects of the project in the member. The results and process of the project are disseminated through a locally organized event(s) and materials derived from the project, such as the final report, practical manual, and a multimedia record in a local language (if possible, with an English version or English translation).
The implementing organization(s) submits the final project outputs to the APO Secretariat in consultation with the demonstration company(ies)/organization(s) before the completion of this stage.
A report is written by the resource person(s) and uploaded to the APO website as a learning tool to replicate the success of the project.
Stage 2: Follow-up (up to 3 months, implemented 6 months after completion of stage 1)
The resource person(s) provides advice for follow-up implementation activities with emphasis on strengthening results/successes and widening dissemination.
The implementing organization(s) submits an annual report to the APO Secretariat in consultation with the demonstration company(ies)/organization(s) before the completion of this stage.
Stage 2 can be implemented up to 2 years after the completion of stage 1.
Coordination with the APO
Coordination with the APO
The DAP must be copy-furnished all communications between the recipient organization and APO Secretariat (Tokyo) for monitoring.
Acknowledgement of APO
Acknowledgement of APO
Recipient NPOs or beneficiaries are requested to acknowledge the services by displaying the APO logo on banners and other promotional materials, displaying the APO flag, etc. NPOs or beneficiaries are encouraged to issue media releases or feature the DMP project on their websites or social media network services. Photographs or copies of such displays and statements should be sent to the APO Secretariat with the evaluation report.
Roles and responsibilities
Roles and responsibilities
Implementing Organization or NPO
Implementing Organization or NPO
Identify the most appropriate company(ies) or organization(s) as a venue for demonstration projects.
Assign a team to be fully involved in the project and later to be trained as local experts.
Coordinate the overall schedule for implementation of the project in the country.
Provide, in addition to a coordinator(s), the necessary number of local experts to work as counterparts to the resource person(s), if necessary.
Arrange all logistic requirements relating to the project (e.g., local transportation, discussion room, interpretation, etc.) for the resource person(s).
Guide and assist the demonstration company(ies)/organization(s) in planning, coordinating, implementing, monitoring, and documenting project activities in consultation with the resource person(s) and APO Secretariat, and monitor closely the process of implementation, particularly the key performance areas.
Coordinate and supervise the preparation of dissemination materials, such as a practical manual and multimedia record.
Conduct a dissemination event(s) such as a workshop, seminar, and industrial visit(s).
Within one month after completion of stage 1, submit the final project outputs, including a final report to the APO Secretariat documenting the entire process of the project; analyzing the results and impact as well as contributions to productivity improvement; and suggesting recommendations for replication in the member utilizing domestic talent, networks, and resources.
Within one month after completion of stage 2, submit the annual project report to the APO Secretariat.
Demonstration Company/Organization
Demonstration Company/Organization
Assign a team and coordinator to work on the project.
Accept and facilitate the training and consultancy services conducted by the resource person(s).
Provide all necessary inputs and information required for the project and extend all necessary local support to the resource person(s), implementing organization(s), and APO Secretariat.
Implement suggestions and recommendations of the resource person(s) based on feasibility and document the results and outcomes of the improvement plans.
Collaborate with the implementing organization(s) in preparing dissemination materials.
Present the project activities and results during a dissemination event(s) for the benefit of other company(ies)/organization(s).
Collaborate with the implementing organization(s) in preparing a final report for submission to the APO Secretariat.
Announce, publicize, and prominently display the APO’s presence and involvement in the demonstration company(ies)/organization(s) throughout the duration of the project.
Showcase good practices of productivity improvement for other companies/organizations in the implementing country and other APO members to embark on similar improvements.
Provide information required by the resource person(s) for publication documenting the productivity journey of the demonstration company(ies)/organization(s).
Resource Person(s)
Resource Person(s)
Perform consultancy, training, and other duties in the areas specified in the productivity improvement plan.
Monitor and evaluate the performance and progress of the productivity enhancement activities of the demonstration company(ies)/organization(s).
Assist the implementing organization(s) in developing dissemination materials and organizing a dissemination event(s).
Assist the demonstration companies in acting as role models.
Prepare publication documenting the productivity journey of the demonstration company(ies)/organization(s).
APO Secretariat (Tokyo, Japan)
APO Secretariat (Tokyo, Japan)
Assign a resource person(s) on productivity tools and techniques and, if necessary, a technical resource person with expertise in the topic of the project.
Coordinate communication among the resource person(s), implementing organization(s), and demonstration company(ies)/organization(s) to ensure smooth implementation of the project.
Monitor the progress of project implementation in consultation with the resource person(s) and implementing organization(s).
Advise the implementing organization(s) and demonstration company(ies)/organization(s) in planning and organizing follow-up activities such as developing dissemination materials and/or organizing a dissemination event(s) for local participants.
Final Project Outputs
Final Project Outputs
1.Stage 1 of the demonstration company project will be completed with submission of the following:
1.Stage 1 of the demonstration company project will be completed with submission of the following:
A final report prepared by the implementing organization(s) in consultation with the demonstration company(ies)/organization(s) and endorsed by the resource person.
A practical manual for replication (in soft copies and/or printed hard copies) prepared by the implementing organization(s).
A multimedia record such as a video/DVD of the experiences of the demonstration company(ies)/organization(s) prepared by the implementing organization(s) and demonstration company(ies)/organization(s). Here is a link to a sample APO Demonstration Project video featuring Moonbake, Inc.: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N6nMeXwBG0s&t=8s
The final report may detail the justification and plan for the implementation of stage 2.
2. Stage 2 of the demonstration company project will be completed with submission of the following:
2. Stage 2 of the demonstration company project will be completed with submission of the following:
Annual project report prepared by the implementing organization(s) in consultation with the demonstration company(ies)/organization(s) and endorsed by the resource person(s).
Any other relevant materials documenting the success stories or dissemination of the stories as well as other follow-up activities.
DMP Policy is based on the Implementation Procedures for APO In-country Programs effective from 27 January 2025.
Page updated
Report abuse