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Minutes

Kansas Workforce Investment Partnership Council
Quality Task Force
March 8, 2001

In attendance: Sandra Hazlett, SRS; Jerry Hiatt, Local Area V and KWIP; Clark Jacobs, Local Area I; David Moore, KDOCH; Paul Osborn, Regents; Al Rolls, Local Area III; Betty Stevens, Local Area II; Linda Weaver, KDHR; Barb Reavis, KWIP staff

Self-introductions were offered. Osborn introduced Tina and John Shoemaker, Kansas Award for Excellence (KAE) Foundation, who explained the mission of the organization, how it differs from the national Malcolm Baldrige Award and the examination and application processes for the Kansas Quality Award.

The Malcolm Baldrige Award is for companies with external customers. It was developed several years ago by the U.S. Department of Commerce, applying specific criteria for excellence to three categories of businesses: manufacturing, service and small business. About three years ago, health care and education industries were added to the list of business types eligible to apply. Organizations compete against the criteria. Nationally, the three judged best in each category receive an award.

KAE has been in existence for about six years, having formed in 1995. It is mostly a volunteer organization. It was developed to recognize organizations that make a commitment to improvement. Awards are earned at three levels: Level One, Commitment to Excellence; Level Two, Performance in Quality; and Level Three, Kansas Excellence Award. KAE usually uses Baldrige criteria from the prior year because of the timing of the processes. However, this year, KAE has adopted one set of the Baldrige current criteria, the 2001 Business Overview.

The Award application for Level One has a limit of no more than 15 pages. The limit for Level Two is 30 pages; the Level Three limit is 50 pages. Last year nine organizations received awards at Level One, 22 received awards at Level Two and ten received awards at Level Three. These award applications have been viewed as an important part in strategic planning. The kind of information gathered could be useful in preparing an annual report, as well. KAE offers training on how to write the application. There is a cost to apply for an award, based on which award level an organization is seeking and the size (by FTE) of the organization. Level One application fee is $200; Level Two fee is $1.20/FTE with a minimum of $500 and a maximum of $1,200; Level Three fee is $2.50/FTE with a minimum of $700 and a maximum of $2,500 plus the expenses to cover a site visit.

Volunteers perform the Award examinations. Last year there were 112 examiners. This year, KAE is hoping to recruit and train 150 examiners. Being an examiner is a tremendous time commitment. An examiner must spend three days in training (no cost for the training) and should expect to spend around 100 hours or more between June and September participating in examination of award applications for the Awards. Travel, lodging and meal expenses for participation in the process are borne by the examiner.

Members discussed the advantages and disadvantages of applying for the Baldrige vs. the KAE awards. KAE seems better suited to the purposes of the Workforce Network of Kansas. It seems less intimidating, more accessible and yet uses Baldrige principles. The infrastructure design is already in place, the process is appealing and a number of individuals associated with Local Boards and agencies are already familiar with KAE. Members present agreed to recommend that KWIP:

** endorse the Kansas Award for Excellence as the tool to assist the Workforce Network of Kansas in continuous process improvement,
** provide incentives to Local Areas to send two people from each area to participate in the KAE Examiner training and process this year (share 50:50 with Local Area the travel, lodging and meal costs associated with the examiner training), and
** commit to assist Local Areas with technical assistance.

Osborn and Reavis will plan to organize a conference call with Local Area administrative entities before the KWIP meeting to share the recommendations the Task Force will be making.

Reavis distributed copies of a document KWIP has compiled outlining Employment and Training programs in Kansas agencies. This document includes the outcomes measures used by each program to identify program successes.

Resource materials from KAE were distributed. Rolls also provided copies for the task force members of a January 2000 booklet from the Workforce Excellence Network, "Performance Excellence in One-Stop Career Center Operations: A Guide for Workforce Boards."

The group will plan to meet the second Thursday of each month, allowing those who serve on both the Marketing and Quality Task Forces to maximize their time on that day. In keeping with that schedule, the next Quality Task Force meeting is set for April 12, 1:30-3:30 and will be held at Kansas Board of Regents Board Room, 14th Floor, Security Benefits Building, 700 SW Harrison. Metered parking is on the street, 25 cents per hour.