The Principles of Performance Excellence: Baldrige 101-201 Workshops

November 19, 2014

Feb 10 (Rochester) and Feb 11 (Twin Cities) 8:00 am – 5:00 pm

The need to improve your organization’s performance has perhaps never been greater. This “new normal” we’ve been enjoying the last few years has created a renewed need for improvement and systemic change within all organizations: customers expect more, competent workers are growing scarce, and competition is intensifying. But – with the complexity of organizations – where does one start? How do you know on which processes to focus? And how to do you sustain the improvement over time?

The Performance Excellence Network is pleased to announce two  half-day workshops: The Principles of Performance Excellence: Baldrige 101 and Baldrige 201. The next offerings will be Tuesday, February 10 (Rochester) and Wednesday, February 11 (Twin Cities):

  • Baldrige 101 (overview workshop) from 8:00-12:00
  • Baldrige 201 (Baldrige Criteria discussion) workshop 1:00-5:00

In addition, we will be offering these same workshops June 16, September 29, and December 15.

The Baldrige framework provides a systems perspective for continuous improvement and advancing performance excellence. The Baldrige “Criteria for Performance Excellence” reflects the leading edge of validated management practice, against which any organization can measure itself to identify and prioritize improvement opportunities. The Criteria have been accepted nationally (in fact, internationally) as the standard for achieving and sustaining organizational excellence, and represents a common language for communication and sharing of best practices within and across organizations.

The Baldrige 101 morning session will provide participants with an overview of the Baldrige Program and a discussion of how the Baldrige framework can benefit your organization (or division, department). You’ll learn how organizations like Cargill, Mayo Clinic, Ritz Carlton, and many nonprofits, schools, and governmental agencies are using the framework to improve performance and outcomes. The workshop will also provide some high-level Baldrige-based tools that can be brought back into your organization.  The 2015 Baldrige Criteria (to be released next month) will have new requirements on change management, branding, Big Data, cyber security, and other drivers of excellence.

The afternoon Baldrige 201 session will offer a deeper dive into the validated Criteria for Performance Excellence.  This session is intended for those who want to learn more about how this framework helps organizations achieve and sustain high performance; it is also intended for those who plan to become 2015 or 2016 Evaluators for our MN Performance Excellence Award.

Note that our Performance Excellence Award Evaluator Training has changed, and a prerequisite is to be “current” in the Criteria for Performance Excellence.  Attending this workshop satisfies that requirement.

Cost for the full day (both Baldrige 101-201 workshops) is $250 for members ($500 for non-members).  Cost for the half-day is $150 for members ($300 for non).  One copy of the Baldrige “Criteria for Performance Excellence” book ($25 value) is included, as are meals.  Those becoming third year (or beyond) Evaluators have no charge for the afternoon.

To register, email brian.lassiter@performanceexcellencenetwork.org.