FAQ

Q: Who can use the Business Barometer?

A: Any authorised business/individual can use this resource.

Q: Why should I complete the Business Barometer?

A: It is a self measurement of performance. Businesses require innovative leadership and best practice processes to succeed in a competitive environment. Thinking about your business on a regular basis enables Owners/Operators to be able to make informed decisions at the right time.

Q: How long does it take to complete?

A: Approx 40 to 60 minutes minutes

Q: Who was Malcolm Baldrige?

A: Malcolm Baldrige was Secretary of Commerce (USA) from 1981 until his death in a rodeo accident in July 1987. Baldrige was a proponent of quality management as a key to the United States prosperity and long-term strength. He took a personal interest in the quality improvement act that was eventually named after him and helped draft one of the early versions. In recognition of his contributions, Congress named the award in his honour.

Q: What are the Baldrige criteria?

A: The Baldrige performance excellence criteria are a framework that any organisation can use to improve overall performance.

Seven categories make up the award criteria:

1. Leadership-Examines how senior executives guide the organisation and how the organisation addresses its responsibilities to the public and practices good citizenship.
2. Strategic planning-Examines how the organisation sets strategic directions and how it determines key action plans.
3. Customer focus-Examines how the organisation determines requirements and expectations of customers and markets; builds relationships with customers; and acquires, satisfies, and retains customers.
4. Measurement, analysis, and knowledge management-Examines the management, effective use, analysis, and improvement of data and information to support key organisation processes and the organisation's performance management system.
5. Workforce focus-Examines how the organisation enables its workforce to develop its full potential and how the workforce is aligned with the organisation's objectives.
6. Process management-Examines aspects of how key production/delivery and support processes are designed, managed, and improved.
7. Results-Examines the organisation's performance and improvement in its key business areas: customer satisfaction, financial and marketplace performance, human resources, supplier and partner performance, operational performance, and governance and social responsibility. The category also examines how the organisation performs relative to competitors.

Q: What browsers are supported?

A: Internet Explorer versions 6*, 7, 8, 9 along with Google Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Opera

* Limited support

The Mindset Barometer is designed to assist the respondent in identifying personal strengths that contribute to success, and in turn, recognise opportunities for personal development that will act as a catalyst in awakening opportunity in a business context.

People who experience success in business share common characteristics, primarily relating to how they think and how they interpret information.

Q: Why should I complete the Mindset Barometer?

A: Thinking about you and your performance within your business is a key ingredient to success. An Owner/Operator's mind set and propensity to embrace change can be the difference at a number of levels in the operating environment. Gain an understanding of how you approach business decisions and use the simple tips contained in the Evaluation Report to work on your business.

Q: How long does it take to complete?

A: The Mindset Barometer requires approximately 20 minutes to complete.

Q: What is Creative Thinking?

A: Creative thinking incorporates lateral thinking, creativity, critical analysis, cognitive restructuring, visualisation and being able to see and generate the Vision or ‘Big Picture’.

Q: What is Motivation?

A: Motivation encompasses the capacity for gratitude, optimism, intuition, humour, passion, generosity, and happiness. It has a clear and sustained focus on goals. It also includes having an opportunity orientation with a capacity to embrace adversity and competition, seek challenges, exploit opportunities and identify resources and competencies.

Q: What is Decisiveness?

A: Decisiveness is being an independent thinker and actor, having a sense of urgency, an ability to forgive (let go) and move on. It incorporates risk taking, underpinned by courage, flexibility and problem solving. Decisiveness includes the ability to be in control of the business and reflects determination, a need to achieve and is supported by persistence and perseverance.

Q: What is Self Awareness?

A: Self awareness operates within a stable world view or paradigm of life which acts as a benchmark for decision making. It is characterised by openness, integrity, honesty, emotional stability, composure and a low need for status. It uses listening, contemplation and planning to create a balance between the needs of the mind/body/spirit.

Q: What is Confidence?

A: Confidence relates to self–assuredness in one’s personal judgment, ability and power. It includes a capacity to accept any circumstances whether good or bad with an orientation to look at the positive and not dwell on the negative.

Q: What is Change Aptitude?

A: Change Aptitude refers to the ability to cope with changing circumstances on a continuous basis. It includes an expectation that circumstances always contain opportunities and a personal belief that these opportunities can be exploited effectively.

Q: What is Relationship Management?

A: Relationship Management refers to a strong social awareness, a desire for networking and team building and a customer first orientation when dealing with others.