The 2007 Baldrige criteria for performance excellence in education and health care, and in business and nonprofit organizations, were recently published on the Baldrige National Quality Program Web site, along with the 2007 Baldrige award application forms.

The Baldrige criteria help companies understand performance management from a systems perspective. They use validated, leading-edge management practices against which an organization can measure itself.

The Baldrige criteria speak a common language for communication among organizations for sharing best practices and are accepted internationally as the model for performance excellence.

In addition, the Baldrige National Quality Program offers a worksheet for self-analysis that can be used to identify an organization’s strengths and opportunities for improvement, as well as to establish action plans and goals.

The documents are available in paper form by request. For more information, visit www.baldrige.nist.gov/Whats_New.htm.

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