IRELAND EXCELLENCE AWARDS PROCESS

2017

ASSESSOR PROFILE

INTRODUCTION

Each year, the Awards Process needs to create teams of high calibre assessors capable of evaluating applicants for the Ireland Excellence Award, Recognised for Excellence (R4E)and Committed to Excellence (C2E). As applications come from a wide range of organisations from all parts of Ireland, sector coverage and balance are important considerations in the selection of assessors. Considerable effort is therefore made to ensure broad participation and to minimise a disproportionate involvement of assessors from any one organisation. Assessors need to possess a high level of expertise and experience in business improvement, together with a balanced approach and a reputation for integrity.

ASSESSOR ROLE

Assessors are involved at each stage of assessing applications for the Award. The process begins in September with Assessor training and then each team member independently scores an application. The team reach a consensus view on the application, with each application being studied by a different assessor team.

Assessors are expected to be knowledgeable on the 2013 Excellence Model and receive training in the Award processes and the method of scoring used.

BENEFITS

There are a number of significant benefits available to any organisation, which offers the services of its employees as Award assessors. These include personal development opportunities such as:

1Improved understanding of the Excellence Model.

2Opportunity to experience best practice and the use of the model in other organisations.

3Enhancement of basic skills e.g. leadership, teamwork and communication.

4Strategic skills such as identifying improvement opportunities and benchmarking.

5Recognition for Assessors and their organisations in publications, national press and at the annual Award ceremony.

DESIRABLE REQUIREMENTS OF ASSESSORS

The following describes typical expectations from those who are willing to take part as an assessor.

Interpersonal Skills

Ability to:

  • understand how others think and act
  • communicate effectively and in a style suited to recipients
  • give constructive and balanced feedback
  • understand group processes and respond appropriately
  • positively approach situations of conflict
  • convey complex concepts and opinions concisely
  • work in or lead a team
  • work to tight time constraints

Operational Skills

Ability to:

  • analyse complex situations quickly
  • translate management concepts into a specific action
  • identify and analyse processes
  • take a high level overview of an organisation
  • assess, in a well-balanced way, the scope of situations and facts
  • maintain confidentiality

Knowledge and Experience

  • career in managerial jobs
  • broad knowledge and experience of management
  • an achiever in respect of business improvement initiatives
  • active involvement in Self-Assessment

TIME COMMITMENT

Training

All Assessors 3 days (Sep 2017)

Consensus Meeting /

Site Visit Planning 1 day for all assessors – Sep/Oct

(2017)

Site Visit

A further 2 to 3 days could be involved in site visits during November.

NBThe overall time commitment can therefore be up 7-10 working days per year.