Organizational Excellence Award

• The GRQC Organizational Excellence Award recognizes best practices and how an organization works to advance its vision and mission. The criteria are organized into seven key categories:

1. Leadership;

2. Strategy;

3. Customers;

4. Measurement, Analysis, and Knowledge Management;

5. Workforce;

6. Operations;

7. Results.

Applicants respond to questions within each category, with detailed instructions provided in the application materials.

• Similar to the Baldrige model, but simpler in both time and effort required to apply, this award is non-prescriptive. GRQC does not dictate how an organization should be led or managed. Instead, the written application and formal assessment process determine the level of recognition. Applicants submit a comprehensive written application, host a site visit, and receive an objective feedback report following the awards presentation.

• GRQC encourages the use of innovative approaches and proven continuous improvement tools/methods that deliver better results. Applicants are invited to describe for the tools and systems most effective to them (e.g., Lean, Six Sigma, International Organization for Standardization [ISO], balanced scorecard, Plan-Do-Check-Act [PDCA], project management, Agile, etc.) and explain how these approaches best support sustainable excellence.

• Complete the application template and send to awards@grcq.org by May 31, 2026.

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After You Submit

 

• After applications are submitted, reviewers will be assigned. The designated reviewer(s) will contact you directly to schedule the site visit. Visits may be conducted in person or virtually, based on what works best for both the applicant and review team.

• The primary purpose of the site visit is to corroborate the information submitted, calrify any questions, and observe relevant practices in action.

• Following the site visit, the review team will apply the scoring guidelines  to complete the formal evaluation process.

• Our video editor Jeff Turof will contact you in July or August to schedule recording of a short video clip promoting your team’s work. This clip will be compiled into a full video with all other applicants to be shown at the Showcase event in October.

 

CONTACT US

For questions about the criteria or application elements, please contact Anne McNelis, GRQC Board Member, by email at awards@grqc.org.