Topic OverviewThe 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?

Baldrige 101 explores these questions in the morning session. The 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 a wide range of organizations are using the framwork to improve performance and outcomes, including:

• Businesses—Cargill, Seagate, Eaton, Boeing
• Healthcare organizations—Mayo Clinic, Benedictine Health System, and Winona Health
• Schools—Marshall, Byron, Rochester Community & Technical College)
• Nonprofits—Memorial Blood Centers, Pillsbury United Communities, PPL
• Governmental agencies—MnDOT, DHS, DOD

The workshop will also provide some high-level Baldrige-based tools that can be brought back into your organization.

• 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.

Who Should Attend

• Applicants
• Anyone interested in learning more about Baldrige

Baldrige 201

In the afternoon, “Baldrige 201” dives deeper into the validated Criteria for Performance Excellence. The afternoon session is intended for those who want to learn more about improvement and those who intend to become 2013 Evaluators for our MN Performance Excellence Award.

Baldrige 201 also is being offered on this afternoon. Please click here to see more.