Two articles in the local paper. The first one on education and the challenge of identifying indicators for measuring success. The second article recognized a company for successfully applying the Baldrige criteria which provides a model for identifying critical performance measures.
Problem Resolution? Use the Baldrige criteria to develop the consensus on how to measure the success of charter and public schools. Baldrige Criteria for Performance Excellence.
Proposed moratorium on charter schools stirs debate, Whether achievement is better at special schools stirs debate, By Andy Gammill, Posted: December 22, 2008
Same old grind doesn’t apply. Cargill’s corn milling plant wins national Baldrige award for innovation. By Carolyn Duffy Marsan / Star correspondent. Posted: December 22, 2008
The U.S. Department of Commerce selects a handful of Baldrige Award winners each year, and the awards are handed out by the president of the United States. Winning the award shows an organization is committed to constantly improving its performance and the value of its products or services.
“It’s a very rigorous process,” said Harry Hertz, director of the Baldrige National Quality Program, and includes a 50-page self-assessment.
Department of Commerce examiners visited the Indianapolis plant in October during the vetting process for the award. Hertz said the examiners were impressed by Cargill’s process for turning ideas from employees into product innovations.
“One of the big things they’ve done over time is come up with innovative uses of corn,” Hertz said. “Just because you’re in an industry that’s been around forever doesn’t mean you can’t be making innovations and have innovative products. That’s the key to surviving and thriving in this challenging economy.”
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