This category examines the organization's performance and improvement in key business areas. Award Levels Organizations can apply for the Lincoln Award at one of three different levels. Applicants are evaluated against a standard of excellence. There is no requirement that a recipient be named in each level, nor is there a limit on the number of recipients. Once an organization commits to the process of applying for a Lincoln Award, it is useful to complete an organizational audit to identify strengths and opportunities for improvement.
Many organizations create a work team to develop action plans for improvement areas.
This creates accountability throughout all departments and levels of the organization. Subsequently, the organization identifies the application level. The higher the level, the more strenuous the application process. This usually requires months of work from a team of employees. The application then goes to a team of trained Lincoln Examiners who spend a significant amount of time reviewing the application and scoring it according to the criteria.