The Presidential Award for Quality Recognizing Excellence and High Performance Among Federal Government Organizations

What is the Presidential Award for Quality? Created in 1988 to recognize high performing Federal organizationsCreated in 1988 to recognize high performing Federal organizations Promotes sharing effective management techniques with other organizationsPromotes sharing effective management techniques with other organizations Provides organizational models to help assess performanceProvides organizational models to help assess performance

How Can the Presidential Award for Quality Help My Organization? Improve performanceImprove performance Become more responsive to customersBecome more responsive to customers Prioritize improvement opportunitiesPrioritize improvement opportunities Places emphasis on visionary leadershipPlaces emphasis on visionary leadership

Are there any other benefits from this award? From the application:From the application: As an applicant, you can benefit from an objective review of your performance and receive valuable feedback that pinpoints your strengths and weaknesses.As an applicant, you can benefit from an objective review of your performance and receive valuable feedback that pinpoints your strengths and weaknesses.

Sounds good, but I really don’t want to apply. Criteria in the application can be used for self-assessment to:Criteria in the application can be used for self-assessment to: Improve communicationImprove communication Make effective resource decisionsMake effective resource decisions Motivate the workforceMotivate the workforce

The core values the criteria are based on. Visionary leadershipVisionary leadership Customer drivenCustomer driven Organizational and personal learningOrganizational and personal learning Valuing employees and partnersValuing employees and partners AgilityAgility Focus on the futureFocus on the future

Core values continued. Managing for innovationManaging for innovation Management by factManagement by fact Public responsibility and citizenshipPublic responsibility and citizenship Focus on results and creating valueFocus on results and creating value Systems perspectiveSystems perspective

The seven criteria used to evaluate applicants LeadershipLeadership Strategic PlanningStrategic Planning Customer FocusCustomer Focus Information and AnalysisInformation and Analysis Human Resource FocusHuman Resource Focus Process ManagementProcess Management Business ResultsBusiness Results

Leadership Organizational LeadershipOrganizational Leadership Organization Responsibility and CitizenshipOrganization Responsibility and Citizenship

Strategic Planning Strategy DevelopmentStrategy Development Strategy DeploymentStrategy Deployment

Customer Focus Customer and Market KnowledgeCustomer and Market Knowledge Customer Satisfaction and RelationshipsCustomer Satisfaction and Relationships

Information and Analysis Measurement of Organizational PerformanceMeasurement of Organizational Performance Analysis of Organizational PerformanceAnalysis of Organizational Performance

Human Resource Focus Work SystemsWork Systems Employee Education, Training, and DevelopmentEmployee Education, Training, and Development Employee Well Being and SatisfactionEmployee Well Being and Satisfaction

Process Management Product and Service ProcessesProduct and Service Processes Support ProcessesSupport Processes Supplier and Partnering ProcessesSupplier and Partnering Processes

Business Results Customer Focused ResultsCustomer Focused Results Financial Performance ResultsFinancial Performance Results Human Resource ResultsHuman Resource Results Supplier and Partner ResultsSupplier and Partner Results Organizational Effectiveness ResultsOrganizational Effectiveness Results

Application Eligibility Must be part of the executive branch of the Federal GovernmentMust be part of the executive branch of the Federal Government At least 100 full time Federal employeesAt least 100 full time Federal employees Autonomous with own defined missionAutonomous with own defined mission Provide products and/or services to customers outside the organizationProvide products and/or services to customers outside the organization

Steps and Time Frame of the Application Process 1.Application distribution, April Agencies establish internal review process by July Application to agency coordinators, July – Sept Application due to Office of Personnel Management by Oct 4, Application Review, Oct/Nov Site visit review, Nov 2002 – Jan Judges final review, Feb 2003

Real World Example – The National Security Agency Won the Presidential Award for Quality in 1999Won the Presidential Award for Quality in 1999 Was viewed by many as “mysterious” before winning the awardWas viewed by many as “mysterious” before winning the award Is now a respected organization with deep ties to the communityIs now a respected organization with deep ties to the community

An Exercise Your Organization Can Use Ask yourself the following questions:Ask yourself the following questions: 1.Is top management in my organization pushing for better quality, and if they are not, would they be responsive to this? 2.Are our customers consistently pleased by our operations? 3.Can my company adapt rapidly to changing market conditions without sacrificing product and worker integrity? (continued on next slide)

The Exercise Continued 4. Does my organization involve itself in the community, and if so, is the community thankful? 5. Is my organization focused on long- term progress rather than short term gain? 6. Do employees in my organization feel valued, and will they voice new ideas? If so, you probably embody the spirit of the award, and may even be able to apply.If so, you probably embody the spirit of the award, and may even be able to apply.

Summary Even if your organization cannot or decides not to apply, the Presidential Award for Quality can greatly aid your operations.Even if your organization cannot or decides not to apply, the Presidential Award for Quality can greatly aid your operations. Integrating the Criteria with your daily operations will tremendously benefit your organization.Integrating the Criteria with your daily operations will tremendously benefit your organization. Quality is not a destination; it is a state of mind.Quality is not a destination; it is a state of mind.

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