Many organizations have done a fine job writing Baldrige or state award applications, and had many of their strengths turn to areas for improvement after the site-visit. Organizations that receive a site-visit should be congratulated because it signifies that the written application warranted more data collection by examiners. In the Baldrige process, you generally need about 600 points out of 1000 to receive a site-visit. Some states such as Minnesota perform site-visits on all applicants; therefore, it is not an indication of "finalist" status as it is with the Baldrige. The purpose of this chapter is to let you know how to prepare for a site-visit if you are an applicant for an award, as well as how to prepare and conduct a site-visit if you are an examiner. The first portion of the chapter explains how to prepare for the examination, and the second section of this chapter presents tips for examiners on conducting a site-visit.

Purpose of the Site-Visit

In spite of what it might seem, Baldrige is not an essay contest. An effective proposal or application certainly helps, but does not ensure winning an award. Review of the written application is the first step in the assessment process. If the application includes enough strengths to convince a team of examiners that yours is a well-run organization, they will probably request a site-visit. Unlike an audit, the purpose of a site-visit is not to look for problems that weren't uncovered in the written application. Examiners are not trained...