Continuous improvement -- both in products and services is the key to the success of organizations in today's competitive global economy. The Lincoln Foundation for Business excellence is helping Illinois organizations undertake continuous improvement and achieve overall excellence by means of self-assessment tools, educational workshops, and by applying for the Lincoln Awards for Excellence.

Patterned after the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, but adapted to the needs of Illinois, the Lincoln Awards process focuses on seven areas deemed essential for performance excellence: Leadership; Strategic Planning; Customer and Market Focus; Information and Analysis; Human Resource Development and Management; Process Management; and Organizational Results. Awards are accessible to small, medium and large organizations in the Industry, Service, Education, Government and Health Care Sectors. The Lincoln Foundation offers a 3-level award process, which provides a stair-step approach to achieving and recognizing excellence. There is no limit on the number of awards that can be awarded provided the necessary standards of excellence are met.

Participation in the Lincoln Foundation program provides a number of important benefits to organizations. First, the Foundation's new self-assessment tool enables organizations to establish their own benchmark against the Foundation's national standard of excellence. Second, attending the Foundation's educational workshops allows organizations to learn more about the continuous improvement criteria and Awards process, as well as the benefits of applying. Third, organizations applying for a Lincoln Award will receive a valuable, confidential, written feedback report about their operations from knowledgeable experts in continuous improvement who serve as Lincoln Foundation examiners and judges, at a nominal cost to the applicant. Fourth, by serving as Lincoln Award examiners, judges or committee members, volunteers expand their access to best practices, enhance their professional knowledge and help make Illinois a better place in which to work and live.