Claire Bailey, director of the Arkansas Department of Information Systems, was appointed Friday, September 21, 2012, to serve a three-year term on the board of directors for the Arkansas Institute for Performance Excellence (AIPE).

“I’m excited to have Claire Bailey serve on our board of directors, said Sue Weatter, program director for the Arkansas Governor's Quality Award. "Her understanding of how this process can help businesses improve will be an asset as we make decisions for the future of the program. Her enthusiasm for performance excellence will be an example for all organizations involved in this journey that it is indeed worth the effort,” Weatter said.

AIPE provides training and consultation and administers the Governor's Quality Award Program. Services of the institute include SWOT Analysis facilitation, strategic planning consultation, performance data training, Balanced Scorecard, and process mapping. Regional and industry-specific training for health care, manufacturing and business are provided. Coaches are available to assist applicants in writing an application for a Governor's Quality Award. AIPE uses the seven categories of the Criteria for Performance Excellence as a guideline for training and application to the Governor's Quality Award. They are Leadership, Strategic Planning, Workforce Focus, Customer Focus, Knowledge Management, Process Management and Results. Consultants can assist organizations not applying for award in performing self-assessments using the Criteria for Performance Excellence.

The Governor's Quality Award was developed to provide an opportunity for all organizations in the state to be recognized for their progress in the journey of performance excellence. The award is to be used by businesses, government agencies, schools, churches and all kinds of organizations, including for-profit, not-for-profit, small, large, growing, mature, etc. - in short, any organization interested in improving quality, productivity and financial effectiveness.