TRANSLATION OF THE BALDRIGE-AWARD CRITERIA TO A CONTEXT MORE ACCESSIBLE TO SMALL COMPANIES

Experience has shown that many small companies find it too costly or i mpractical to use the criteria of the Malcolm Baldrige National Qualit y Award as a tool to improve their quality culture. A state-level awar d has found a way to make the criteria more accessible to small compan ies without diluting the essence of the criteria. The Connecticut Qual ity Improvement Award has translated the specifics of the Baldrige cri teria to a set of 37 questions to which applicants, or those wishing t o use the criteria for self-assessment, can respond with considerably reduced effort.