Avoid the most common pitfalls
Tips for a successful Assessment
6. Keep the training focused on those who really need it first
Improving an organization always involves a significant investment in education and training, so it's important to spend this resource wisely.
For those directly involved in an assessment, some training in Baldrige – and in assessment methods – is essential:
- The senior leaders need an orientation to help them understand the Baldrige system approach, and to set their expectations regarding the process and the deliverables.
- Employees who are to play significant roles – e.g. as internal assessors – need in-depth training in the criteria and the assessment methodology.
When the assessment has been completed and the improvement priorities have been identified, those taking part in improvement teams require some very specific training, for example in basic quality principles, and in quality improvement methods and tools.
However, it is usually counterproductive to conduct training on a large-scale – on Baldrige or anything else – until the senior leaders have grasped the concepts and begun to tackle their role in the improvement process. When this happens, and when management practices begin to change as a result, then it makes sense to provide education and training for more people.
In the meantime , to make best use of your scarce resources, keep the training focused on those who really need it first.
Further reading
This
article just touches on some of the key issues.
For lots more information on how to conduct an assessment effectively, see
"From Baldrige
to the Bottom Line".