Highways Agency

CAT3 is described in and supported by three separate sets of documents: -

The induction materials are those used to introduce participating suppliers and CAT practitioners to the CAT3 process, and to train both in its consistent application. These include introductory briefing presentations and any associated handouts, and copies of all materials, case studies and worked examples used in the joint training programme for CAT Practitioners and CAT Champions.

The implementation materials are those used to apply the CAT3 process to individual companies. These fit within the structure shown below.

The working documents are the materials that are used during each CAT assessment. They include:

• The visit template that follows through each visit, starting with the visit questions, developed through the visit itself, and emerging as the final feedback report.
• The scoring template, an Excel spreadsheet that is used to calculate scores.
• Review templates, for use in the peer reviews during each assessment and in the 360° reviews at the end of each assessment.
• The implementation materials

The CAT framework shows the 24 indicators. These are based on both industry and CAT practitioner feedback received after CATs 1 and 2, and replace the previous 18 indicator model. The framework also shows the elements of the scoring system, which is applied to each of the indicators.

The five attribute headings (direction and leadership, strategy and planning, people, partnerships, and processes and resources) show how the 24 revised indicators relate to those previously used in CATs 1 and 2. These attributes are not significant in terms of scoring.

The content guidance provides a series of points that may be relevant to the organisation in addressing each of the indicators. These points are intended to guide thinking, and may or may not be relevant, depending, for example, on the nature of the company and the type of role(s) it seeks to play when engaging with the Highways Agency. The guidance should not be considered in any way prescriptive or exhaustive.

The scoring guidance describes how the company will be scored by the CAT Practitioner Team against each of the 24 indicators. Unlike CATs 1 and 2, the process is the same for every indicator.

The process guidance describes the overall CAT assessment process. It includes the roadmap - a flowchart showing the sequence of activities for each CAT assessment.

There is a brief summary of the key process steps. Each step of the process is then broken down to describe the process in detail.

The glossary contains definitions of key terms used in CAT3.