The Award Program

Applying for a Tennessee Center for Performance Excellence Award is an effective way to look at your organization from a systems perspective, energize employees, and increase the focus on business results.

At the end of the process, you will receive award recognition, however our customers say the real value of the program comes from the comprehensive feedback report that details your organization's strengths and opportunities for improvement. Successful organizations use this low-cost consultation as a key strategic planning input.

Apply for a TNCPE Award

Eligibility

The TNCPE Award program is open to companies and non-profit organizations throughout Tennessee (some out-of-state organizations are also eligible). Whether you're large or small, established or start-up, the program scales to fit your organization's unique profile.

Recognition

All applicant organizations are recognized at the annual Excellence Celebration, held in conjunction with the Excellence Conference. During the celebration, each TNCPE applicant receives an award based on its level of achievement. TNCPE also publically recognizes award winners by publishing winner names and levels on the website, in the printed Baldrige Excellence Framework and on various Social Media channels.

The Award Process

The foundation of the TNCPE Award program is the Baldrige Excellence Framework (which includes the Criteria for Performance Excellence), published annually by TNCPE. Using questions posed in the Criteria, you'll create a self-assessment that is analyzed by a team of TNCPE Examiners. This self-assessment can range from five to 55 pages, depending on the award level sought. The four award levels are:

Interest Recognition (Level 1)
Commitment Award (Level 2)
Achievement Award (Level 3)
Excellence Award (Level 4)

After analyzing your self-assessment, TNCPE Examiners will make a site visit to your workplace to gain a thorough understanding of your organization. Based on its findings, the examiner team will prepare a detailed feedback report that identifies your strengths and opportunities for improvement. The TNCPE Panel of Judges will review the examiners' work and determine your organization's recognition level.

Getting Started

A great way to get started is by ordering a copy of the TNCPE Baldrige Excellence Framework. This book is the foundation of the TNCPE program and provides details regarding application and eligibility requirements, as well as the Criteria for Performance Excellence on which to base your self-assessment. Order your copy of the framework online here or by emailing the TNCPE office at contact@tncpe.org.

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