Preparing PENW/WSQA Lite Applications – Six Steps

Key Steps for Preparing a Performance Excellence NW (Washington State Quality Award) Lite Application

 

Step 1. File an Intent to Apply With PENW/WSQA

You can download the Intent to Apply form is available for download from the PENW website at www.performanceexcellencenw.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/PENW-WSQA-Intent-Apply-Form.pdf

 

Step 2. Obtain PENW/WSQA Lite Application Criteria

Make sure you use the 2019-2020 Lite Criteria. There are two sources for the PENW Lite Criteria.

Learn more about the PENW/WSQA Lite Criteria

 

Step 3. Draft Lite Application

Begin drafting your Lite Application. Responding to the Lite Criteria questions by:

  • Describing your processes for doing what the Criteria questions ask
  • Describing your processes by addressing each of the 2019-20 Scoring Criteria by which examiners evaluate and score your application
  • Providing quantifiable numerical results that show the effectiveness of your processes
  • Providing results that address each of the 2019-20 Scoring Criteria by which examiners evaluate and score your application.

Learn more or register for the Lite Application Development Workshop

See our article “Lite Application Development Made Simple”

Click here to see a few Lite Application Drafting Tips

 

Step 4. Submit Lite Application

Submit your Lite Application to PENW by the date you specified on your Intent to Apply.

According to the PENW website: “Email one electronic copy to AskUs@PerformanceExcellenceNW.org and mail 3 paper copies to Performance Excellence NW PO Box 5941 Kent, WA 98064-5941.” It is best to check the PENW website for the current address as this address sometimes changes.

Evaluators review and score your application and provide feedback on how well your organization is doing what Criteria say you should be doing.

 

Step 5. Receive Feedback Report

PENW provides you with a Feedback Report and score that indicates how well your organization is doing what Criteria say you should be doing – best practices.

The Feedback Report lists your organization’s strengths relative to the Lite Criteria questions. It also presents your opportunities for improvement (OFIs) relative to the Criteria questions. 

 

Step 6. Improve Performance

Many organizations focus on remedying the OFIs to improve overall organizational performance. Your Feedback Report may have 30-45 OFIs. How do you prioritize which OFIs are really the most important ones to rectify? Refer to the following article for tips to effectively identify and prioritize the OFIs to remedy.

4 Effective Steps to Prioritize Feedback Report OFIs