The Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award is the highest level of national recognition for performance excellence that a U.S. organization can receive. An organization must have a role-model organizational management system that ensures continuous improvement in the delivery of products and/or services, demonstrates efficient and effective operations, and provides a way of engaging and responding to stakeholders. From understanding the scoring system to preparing for a site visit, this book covers all stages in the process. It offers detailed explanations of each examination item and the seven major categories. This edition reflects new criteria, which address education and healthcare.