Fisher's Baldrige Criteria-Based Assessment Model

In terms of a homeland security assessment completed using Fisher’s (2004) Baldrige Criteria-based assessment model, an organization can either be rated as world class, zero based, or somewhere in-between. Obviously every organization should strive for a world class rating, but one of the primary benefits of completing a homeland security assessment is the ability to identify areas of strength, weakness, and how to improve as an organization. Here we will examine four of the seven Baldrige Criteria-based categories (Measurement, Analysis, and Knowledge Management, Human Resource Focus, Process Management, and Business Results) and what separates a world class organization from a zero based organization for each category.

First, let’s look at Measurement, Analysis, and Knowledge Management. This category is largely based around data and the organization’s collection, analysis, and subsequent use of said data (Fisher, n.d.). A world class organization should have a well-established process for data collection that tracks this data from its “…selection, collection,

These processes affect both the customer, as well as the organization as a whole. A favorable rating in this category would require that the needs of the customer, as well as the organization as a whole, be met. A world class organization could be characterized as one that values employee input and suggestions related to homeland security issues and the processes by which they are dealt with. A world class organization also utilizes tools such as surveys to collect input and flowcharts to aid in the understanding of how established processes will help the organization meet its homeland security goals. A zero based organization gives little to no input to its customer base or employees outside of leadership positions, and has no method of designing new homeland security