Football has various ways of celebrating achievements. Not only those that are the best, but also those that fall far short of expectations.

One of them is the Bidone d’Oro award, a “trash bin” award initiated by Rai Radio 2 in Italy since 2003.

This award, which is usually announced around the same time as the selection of the FIFA Ballon d’Or winner, is bestowed upon a player considered to have performed poorly throughout a season of the Italian football league.

The award is similar to the Golden Raspberry Awards or Razzie Awards, the antithesis of the Academy Awards (Oscars) for outstanding achievements in the global film industry.

A number of big names, due to their flop performances throughout a season, have been chosen by journalists and fans as recipients of the Bidone d’Oro.

Brazilian stars such as Rivaldo, Adriano, and Alexandre Pato are included in the list of recipients of this “parody” award.

So too are several other famous players such as Diego Milito (Argentina), Christian Vieri (Italy), and Ricardo Quaresma (Portugal).

That story comes to mind when, in the weeks toward the end of the year, we are presented with abundant news about the granting of awards to various institutions or figures, including public officials.

The organizations granting these awards are very diverse; some have routinely given awards for many years.

However, there are also organizations that have only relatively recently become known. The categories of awards given can also be very varied, ranging from commonly heard categories such as best figure of the year or figures with companies that have the largest market value.

Yet it is not surprising if there are special categories that seem to be “deliberately designed” or “made up” to be awarded to certain figures.

Awards should be a form of appreciation given for the achievements of an individual or a particular group.

To be an objective award, the assessment must be carried out using parameters that are measurable, tested, and traceable.

With these prerequisites, an award will gain its dignity, truly becoming a form of appreciation for someone’s achievements.

Recognition of achievement, excellence, and the high standards created, as well as the impact and contributions made, is also expected to motivate others to replicate and even surpass such achievements in the future.

In Indonesia, a number of awards have been routinely given to local governments for many years.

For example, the Adipura Award has long been a measure of regional achievement in environmental management.

The Regional Development Award is bestowed upon regions with the best development planning and achievements.

In subsequent developments, every ministry and state institution has initiated awards for regions, in line with the sectoral interests under their authority.

This is separate from the Bureaucratic Reform Index resulting from the evaluation of Government Agency Performance Accountability (AKIP) and Bureaucratic Reform (RB), which is one of the main determining factors in proposals, determinations, and the amount of performance allowances for ministries and institutions.

A reciprocal response has also emerged. Local governments target improvements and pursue awards as one of the indicators of superior performance achievement.

Several performance assessment standards set by the central government become part of efforts to obtain incentives to increase regional finances.

Therefore, it is natural that these assessments become targets from year to year, translated into performance indicators for each local government work unit.

In the private sector as well as state-owned or region-owned enterprises, obtaining awards is believed to be able to enhance the image and reputation of the organization.

At the very least, any award included in an annual report can add points, especially for individual assessments of directors or commissioners who receive such awards.

Market law also applies. When the need to obtain awards becomes very strong, on the other side institutions granting awards begin to emerge.

They are adept at spotting opportunities, identifying who needs awards, and then offering awards that can polish appearances before the public.

There are even those who can accommodate parties who shamelessly order certain awards. In political years, ahead of contests, the trend of awarding usually increases in line with rising needs.

The situation is suitable for boosting popularity (and perhaps electability). The public is easily intoxicated by figures or organizations that appear highly accomplished, with a series of awards obtained.

The mechanisms played by award-giving institutions may not be directly transactional, paying first and then receiving the award. Financial support can be framed in the form of sponsorship, for example.

The real test is simple: would the award still be given if the nominated organization or figure were unwilling to become a sponsor?

A subtler way is that award recipients are “required” to “purchase” tickets, buying up sets of tables or seats at varying prices depending on their placement during the award ceremony, which is usually held in prestigious buildings or hotels. Publication and media coverage can be bundled into this type of award package.

“Bogus” award models will certainly be negligent in determining the criteria used in the assessment.

It is possible that categories are even formulated afterward. The nomination process is unclear, perhaps merely to identify whether the prospective recipient is male or female.

This goes hand in hand with assessments that may be arbitrary, where candidates and winners can suddenly appear, without clarity on when assessments took place and who was assigned as the assessment team.

In the end, awards obtained through proper mechanisms, objective criteria, and fair nomination and assessment will certainly preserve the achievements that have been attained. Objective awards are worthy rewards to appreciate an achievement.

Conversely, if those objective norms are not fulfilled, believe that any kind of (bogus) award given is nothing more than false validation that polishes pseudo pride.

Rather than appreciation, the result is ridicule in front of a public that is increasingly intelligent in digesting information.

Dr. Sidik Pramono, S.T., M.A.
Lecturer in Public Administration, FIA UI.

Source: https://kaltimpost.jawapos.com/opini/2386939136/penghargaan-dan-validasi-semu?page=4