U.S. flag
        An official website of the United States government
          Here's how you know
        Here's how you knowDot gov**Official websites use .gov**
              
              A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
        Https**Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
              
              A **lock** (   A locked padlock
 ) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.  **
Menu


    close

        
        
                        
  
          Home
      
    
              How NIC can help
      
                
  
          **I need Training or Courses**
               Free e-courses available 24/7
              
      
                
  
          NIC Training Programs
          In-person and blended trainings
      
    
              I need Technical Assistance
          Guidance, support, advice, assessment, and/or customized training
      
    
              I'm looking for Information Assistance
          NIC publications, DVDs, FAQs, and more
      
    
              **I need other assistance from NIC**
              
      
                
  
          NIC Helpdesk
      
    
              Connect with other Corrections Professionals
          NIC Community Forums
      
    
              Funding Opportunities
          Cooperative Agreements and more
      
    
              Resources
      
                
  
          **News and Events**
              
      
                
  
          Conferences
      
    
              NIC Events
      
    
              NIC News & Media Releases
      
    
              Subscribe to NIC's News & Announcements
          Emails with NIC's latest news and initiatives
      
    
              NIC Quarterly Newsletter Archive
      
    
              **Featured Resources**
              
      
                
  
          Resources for Corrections Professionals
          Resources about correctional topics
      
    
              Topics
          Focused areas of research for Corrections Professionals
      
    
              NIC's e-courses
      
    
              Hot Topics
          Answers to questions about NIC services & resources
      
    
              FAQs
          Frequently Asked Questions
      
    
              **NIC Library**
              
      
                
  
          Search the Library Collection
      
    
              Ask a Librarian
      
    
              Free eBooks
      
    
              Sign in to the EBSCOhost Research Platform
          Free research resources provided by NIC
      
    
              Webinars and Broadcasts
          Streaming Video of NIC Trainings
      
    
              US State Statistics
          Statistics Information about US Corrections
      
    
              About NIC
      
                
  
          **About the Agency**
              
      
                
  
          Mission
      
    
              Staff Directory
      
    
              Reports to the Nation
      
    
              Funding Opportunities
      
    
              History of NIC
      
    
              Advisory Board
      
    
              **Divisions**
              
      
                
  
          Academy Division
      
    
              Community Services Division
      
    
              Jails Division
      
    
              Prisons Division
      
    
              **Strategic Plan**
              
      
                
  
          Subscribe to NIC's News & Announcements
          Emails with NIC's latest news and initiativesMy Cart
                                
                          
        
                Log in Home
                                    Achieving Performance Excellence (APEX) Guidebook Series

      

                    
          
    Achieving Performance Excellence (APEX) Guidebook Series
APEX: Building the Model and Beginning the Journey
      “Through extensive research and analysis, the National Institute of Corrections (NIC) is offering the field of corrections a comprehensive business model entitled the APEX (Achieving Performance Excellence) Initiative. The APEX Initiative is an agency-driven systems approach to building capacity for higher organizational performance, best practices, data-driven decision making using multiple self-assessment tools, and a Guidebook series with strategies, interventions, and pathways. The APEX Public Safety Model presents a whole-systems view of a correctional agency” (p. v). You definitely want to put this on your must read soon list! Ten chapters follow an introduction to Achieving Performance Excellence (APEX): overview to APEX; APEX Leadership Domain; APEX Organizational Culture Domain; APEX Operations Focus Domain; APEX Stakeholder Domain; APEX Workforce Domain; APEX Strategic Planning Domain; APEX Measurement, Analysis, and Knowledge Management Domain; APEX Results Domain; and developing a 7-step communications plan.
    Understanding Corrections through the APEX Lens
      This guidebook “is the second book in the APEX Guidebook series and is designed to help correctional practitioners deepen their knowledge of the Public Safety Model domains. It offers practical suggestions for improving performance and creating positive change by sharing best-practice methods and current literature on higher performance in corrections” (p. ix). APEX itself provides strategies for achieving performance excellence in the Public Safety Model domains-operations (which includes safe and secure supervision and settings and process management), stakeholder focus, workforce focus, strategic planning, measurement/analysis/knowledge management, and results. Eight chapters follow an introduction to Achieving Performance Excellence (APEX): introduction; operations focus-safe and secure supervision and settings; operations focus-process management; stakeholder focus; workforce focus; strategic planning; measurement, analysis, and knowledge management; and results.
    Culture and Change Management: Using APEX to Facilitate Organizational Change
      “Culture, including beliefs, assumptions, values, norms, and practices in an organization, determines the success of an organization’s performance and change efforts. This book helps illuminate the role culture plays in an organization that is striving for higher performance ... Knowledge of culture enables an organization to proceed along the path to successful change. The APEX Change Management Model provides a process and map for organizational change based in research and best practices; it engages the human component of the organization to ensure success” (p. 85). Eight chapters follow an introduction to Achieving Performance Excellence (APEX): introduction; organizational culture and change; introduction to change management; APEX Change Management Model; additional elements of successful change management; communications planning during change; change management principles and practices in action-Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA); and changing culture during challenging times.
    Applying the APEX Tools for Organizational Assessment
      “Previously, not many assessment tools looked at issues that specifically affect those who work in the field of corrections ... [This book] presents three organizational assessment tools developed specifically for the field of corrections. The APEX assessment tools are designed to look at an agency’s readiness to take on a change process, understand the importance of safety and security to correctional operations, measure performance on the APEX Public Safety Model’s eight domains, and provide guidance for developing a performance improvement plan” (p. vii).

Five chapters are contained in this publication:

introduction;
	how to use the APEX Assessment Tools Protocol;
	APEX Screener;
	APEX Organizational Profile;
	and the APEX Inventory.The three tools are bundled with this publication.
    APEX Resources Directory Vol. 1: Change Management and the APEX Domains
      This directory “is an integral part of the National Institute of Correction’s (NIC’s) Achieving Performance Excellence (APEX) Initiative. It provides resources, tools, and interventions to support correctional agencies on the APEX journey. This directory is designed to complement the APEX Guidebook series and to enhance efforts to improve performance excellence by providing domain-specific resources and interventions. It can also be used as a stand-alone guide to change management and to the APEX Public Safety Model domains, which include the following: Leadership; Operations Focus; Organizational Culture; Stakeholder Focus; Workforce Focus; Strategic Planning; Measurement, Analysis, and Knowledge Management; [and] Results. Using this directory, the agency can target one or more domains and can find specific domain-related guiding questions, tools and interventions, case studies, and other resources to direct a change effort for improvement. Potential scenarios for change include the following: (1) when an agency is getting ready for Prison Rape Elimination Act compliance; (2) when a new jail director comes on board; (3) when a new committee is formed to direct performance excellence; (4) when a change in legislation requires agency changes; (5) when an agency is running smoothly, but assesses itself preventively and finds room for improvement in specific domains; (6) when a new program is put into practice; and (7) when an opportunity arises to embark on a change effort” (p. 1).
    APEX Resources Directory Vol. 2: Communications, Focus Groups, and Development
      “APEX Resources Directory Volume 2 provides supportive information to correctional agencies embarking on the APEX (Achieving Performance Excellence) journey. It introduces the National Institute of Corrections (NIC) Information Center, provides detailed information on creating a communications plan for those implementing the APEX Initiative, describes how to use focus groups to effectively gather information and feed-back, and includes a team development guide for those who want to build teams, enhance team performance, and understand what makes teams an effective part of any organization” (p. 1). Chapters following a view of achieving performance excellence are: introduction; NIC resources; APEX Communication Plan; focus groups-a practical guide; and team development guide; and book summary.
    Achieving Performance Excellence: The Influence of Leadership on Organizational Performance
      “Leadership is a very important component of higher performing organizations. This book presents a breadth and depth of information about leading others and describes what leaders need to excel at and what up-and-coming leaders need to know as they prepare themselves for leadership positions. Taking a balanced approach to leadership allows correctional leaders to influence different people and diverse stakeholder groups in differing situations. Good leaders know when they need to manage rather than lead and how these two activities differ” (p. 71). Chapters cover: an introduction; focus on the leader; leadership of others ad beyond; leadership that is transforming; case study-collaboration shifts a dysfunctional culture; and case study-new leadership as a catalyst for change.
    APEX Change Team Training: Facilitators Manual [and] Participant Manual [Lesson Plans and Participant Manual]
      The National Institute of Corrections (NIC) and People in Charge LLC are pleased to present the Achieving Performance Excellence (APEX) Change Team Training Curriculum - part of the APEX Initiative. The APEX initiative incorporates culture, leadership, performance measurement, results, and a change management strategy to help corrections agencies use their resources wisely to improve their organizational performance ...The APEX Change Team Training will provide correctional agencies with capacity-building training in the APEX systems approach to organizational performance improvement. This training is designed to create teams of internal change agents in all sectors of corrections. It will enable participants to build their skills and take the APEX components out to their agencies and successfully implement the APEX processes: assisting their agencies as they go through the culture and change management processes, developing integrated and holistic implementation plans to meet any identified gaps, developing comprehensive communications plans, and working toward sustaining the change efforts.Modules include: · Welcome and Program Overview; · APEX Public Safety Model; · Change management and organizing people; · Agency assessment: laying the groundwork for change; · Define the goal; · Build the implementation plan; · Communications planning; · Implement and sustain changes; · Workshop close. Includes copies of the PowerPoint presentation slides. Return to top

      About NIC

About the Agency
	Divisions
	Staff Directory
	Contact NIC

NIC Services

Training
	Technical Assistance
	Corrections Forums
	Subscribe to NIC News

Resources

Resources by Role
	Resources by Topic
	NIC News
	NIC Events
  
      Agency logo
              
                              National Institute of Corrections
        
                  NIC Legal Policies and DisclaimersNIC Privacy Policy and DisclaimersPlain Language PolicyAccessibility PolicyDOJ Links:Justice.govOpen GovernmentLegal Policies and DisclaimersInformation QualityPrivacy PolicySmall BusinessOffice of the Inspector GeneralBudget and PerformanceFOIANo FEAR Act DataVulnerability Disclosure PolicyVote.govHave a question about government services? Contact USA.govFollow NIC on X
the National institute of corrections governmental seal