STEPS FOR SUBMITTING APPLICATION
1. Gain education in understanding the criteria by attending the Introduction to Performance Excellence workshop. Visit Washington State Quality Award - Workshops Course Descriptions.
2. Determine which application you will be submitting (the Lite or the Full). See comparison table below.
3. Down load Application and Intent to Apply Form (below).
4. Complete the Intent to Apply form and mail to WSQA by required dates. To find due dates visit Washington State Quality Award - Time Table.
5. Down load the appropriate criteria (Lite or Full) below.
6. Assistance in preparing your application is available through participation in a WSQA Collaborative. Visit Washington State Quality Award - Peer Groups for more information. The Preparing and Applying for the WSQA workshop is also helpful in preparing your application. Visit Washington State Quality Award - Workshops Course Descriptions for more information. To better understand how your application will be evaluated, we recommend the Baldrige Case Study workshop. Visit Washington State Quality Award - Workshops Course Descriptions.
CRITERIA
AND APPLICATIONS
Download
Full Examination Criteria for Performance Excellence
Download
2008 Lite (Assessment) Criteria
If you need additional copies of the 2007 Lite (Assessment) Criteria, contact WSQA directly.
2008 FULL EXAMINATION AND LITE APPLICATION AND INTENT TO APPLY FORM PDF (download)
2008 FULL
EXAMINATION AND LITE APPLICATION AND INTENT TO APPLY FORM WORD DOCUMENT (download)
Application Fees
*NEW OPTION* It is now possible to pay your application and elegibility fees
online. Online
payment link
WSQA offers two types of applications. The Lite(Assessment) application
is designed to provide an overview evaluation and does not afford the opportunity
of a site visit. The Full Examination Application is the full application.
Fees and expenses are set to cover a portion of the cost of the review. Payment
of the application fee must be made when the application is submitted. Application
fees and administrative expenses are kept to a minimum through volunteer efforts.
The schedule is as follows:
An Intent to Apply Fee of $150 is required for both
Full Examination and Lite (Assessment) Applications.
Applicants must select from either the Lite (Assessment) application or the
Full Examination application. Please refer to the application guidelines
for a full description of these two options.
Lite (Assessment) Application fee is $625.
FullExamination Application and Site Visit Fees are
listed below. Applicants are expected to absorb reasonable expenses of
the examination team.
Full Examination Application Fees for 2008
| NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES | EXAMINATION APPLICATION FEE | SITE VISIT ADMINISTRATIVE FEE |
| 0-50 employees | $750 | $500 + actual expenses |
| 51-250 employees | $1750 | $500 + actual expenses |
| 251-500 employees | $2,500 | $500 + actual expenses |
| 501+ employees | $5,000 | $500 + actual expenses |
Two Application Alternatives
Application Summary |
Application Levels |
|
|
Lite (Assessment) (See Assessment Application guidelines |
Full Examination |
Application Deadlines* |
Quarterly. A limited number of applications are reviewed each quarter. |
Annual cycle Visit www.wsqa.net for dates. |
Intent to Apply /Application Form* |
Required. Accepted throughout the year. Intent to Apply forms must be submitted at least 4 months prior to the submission of your Lite Application. Applications are reviewed based on first receipt of request as indicated on the Intent to Apply Form. |
Required. See Web site for due date. |
Criteria used to create application |
Two Page Lite (Assessment) Criteria A subset of questions from the Full criteria |
Full Criteria for Performance Excellence |
Version of Criteria Accepted |
Application submitted must be in response to the current year or previous year criteria | Application submitted must be in response to the CURRENT year criteria |
Organizational Profile |
Required up to 5 pages |
Required up to 5 pages |
Depth of Application |
Overall categorical |
Category, Items, and Area Levels |
Application Size (including Organizational Profile) |
Up to 20 pages (2008 version) Up to 15 pages (2007 version) +5 page Organizational Profile and 1 page organization chart and a glossary of terms, (minimum 10 pt font) |
Up to 50 pages +5 page Organizational Profile and 1 page organization chart and a glossary of terms, (minimum 10 pt font) |
Site Visit |
Not available |
Contingent upon results of Phase 2 review. Upon acceptance, applicant agrees to pay all Site Visit expenses and fees. |
Examiner Contribution |
Required to commit one (1) examiners the year prior, during or post application submission. |
Required to commit one (1) examiners the year prior, during or post application submission. |
Award Level Eligibility |
No recognition. Evidence of submission is provided through the Certificate of Submission sent with the Feedback Report. |
Commitment Award Achievement Award Leadership Award Excellence Award * Award level is determined by Panel of Judges |
Review Process |
1-3 Examiners or Judges. Minimum of stage 1 review, up to 2nd stage. |
Full Examination team (5-10 members) with Judge Mentors. Minimum of 2 review stages up to 3rd stage. |
Determines Recommendation |
Senior Examiner or Judge |
Panel of Judges |
Feedback to Applicant |
5-10 page report at the Category level and Executive Briefing. Scoring bands provided at Category level.
|
Full Feedback Report including Item and key theme feedback and Executive Briefing. Scoring bands provided at Item level. Overall Scoring band provided. |
Fees |
Visit Web site for most current fees. |
Visit Web site for most current fees. |
Full Examination Application Evaluation Process
Applications are reviewed extensively by a team of trained examiners to score the level of maturity in each of the seven evaluation criteria categories. Organizations who receive high scores will receive an on-site visit. A panel of judges then recommends award recipients based on the results of the written applications and the site visits.
>Download Site Visit Expectations
Lite (Assessment) Application Review Process
Applications are reviewed at the category level by 1-3 Senior Examiners and/or Mentors. The on-site visit is not offered for Lite (Assessment) Applications. Lite (Assessment) Applications are only eligible for the certificate level of recognition.
All applications are strictly confidential.
Sector Categories
All sectors are eligible to apply for the award including:
- For-Profit
- Not-for-Profit
- Health Care
- Public
- Education
Full Examination Recognition Levels
The following recognition levels are only available for the Full Examination Applications:
Certificate of Commitment
This level is the starting point for organizations that are beginning to adopt and apply quality principles as defined by the WSQA Criteria.
WSQA for Achievement
This intermediate level is for those organizations that have demonstrated significant progress toward excellence and process for continuous improvement.
WSQA for Leadership
This is an advanced level for organizations that have demonstrated significant progress toward excellence.
WSQA for Excellence
This is the award level is for organizations that have demonstrated the highest level of excellence.
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