B Y T O M G I L L E S P I E

NHQA CRITERIA

LEADERSHIP

NATIONAL HOUSING QUALITY AWARD

• Is not a competition against other home builders.

• You are measured and rated against the criteria.

• Criteria consists of:

Leadership Human Resources

Strategic Planning Constructed Quality

Customer Satisfaction Trade Relationships

Performance Management Business Results

VISION

• What is the vision of the future? “To …”

• What the company can become, but just out of

reach.

• Example:

Caterpillar

“Be the global leader in value.”

MISSION

• The mission statement is how the vision will be

realized. “To …”

• Has a focus on quality and the customer.

• Gives purpose and a focus to the company.

• Example from Kennedy Community Development:

“Our mission is to engage in the development

and construction of single family homes in markets

that position us as the builder of choice.”

VALUES

• Values guides behavior and decision making.

• They are the “rules of the road.”

• They are “how things are done around here” for

new people joining the organization.

SENIOR LEADERS

• What senior leaders do to bring the vision, mission

and values to life.

• A personal commitment to quality.

• Actively involved in improvement activities.

• Continuously communicate the vision, mission and

values of the company.

FEEDBACK

• Actively sought to measure against the vision,

mission and values of the organization.

• Surveys measure alignment to the mission & values.

• The leadership function is managed as a process.

• Continuously improved through evaluation and

feedback.

LIVING THE VISION

• How senior leaders live the vision, mission & values.

• How senior leaders are role models.

• How senior leaders empower the organization.

• Employees understand what the company

is trying to do.

• Employees actively reinforce the mission & values.

INVOLVEMENT

• Employees are actively involved to benefit the

community or housing industry.

• Senior leaders create opportunities for employees

to be actively involved.