Positioning The HGES

We have the ISO 9000 standards and certification. We have the TQM models and assessments (e.g. EFQM, Malcolm Baldrige, Deming). We have customer oriented models and assessments (‘Michelin like’).

Each model fits its own purpose, but they are not so well suited for the assessment of Cultural Heritage.

In fact the HGES is based on the assumption that in the field of Cultural Heritage is a multipurpose model which better meets the needs of the plurality of actors involved. The HGES makes it possible to combine the advantages of existing models, because the qualification/certification of Cultural Heritage sites is a problem of extraordinary importance. Just extrapolating existing assessment models to the Cultural Heritage area would be a “by default” approach that does not optimise results. So, the HGES model has been built on the experience gained from existing models as a multi-perspective, multi-aimed system resulting in:

• A plurality of perspectives (self-assessment by the site managers; evaluation by visitors; evaluation by an external team of experts);
• A plurality of aims (information for potential visitors; information for site management; information for stakeholders-direction).