Examiner Responsibilities

Examiners fulfill a critical role in the ONE Award process – the review of applications received from applicant organizations. Examiners are responsible to develop a high quality feedback report based upon the award criteria and application content. The feedback report developed by Examiners through their independent review, consensus process and site visit activities is reviewed by the Selectors to determine recognition for applicants as finalists and process honorees. This same feedback report is then delivered to the award applicant for their use in improving their organizational effectiveness. 

Applicants pursue this award with the intent of receiving high quality, objective feedback from these outside Examiners in order to help them identify opportunities for improvement in their organizations. The Examiners have a vital role in meeting the needs of two key customers – the applicant and the Selectors - of the ONE Award process.

Examiner reviews are conducted based solely upon the award criteria. Examiners are asked to utilize their individual knowledge, but are expected to limit their feedback to providing indications of applicant strengths and opportunities for improvement relative to the criteria. It is critical that feedback be criteria-based rather than prescriptive, solution-oriented comments.

All examiners, both new and those returning from any of the past three award cycles in 2006-2008, are required to attend training to become familiar with the criteria (especially the criteria changes for 2009) as well as the evaluation and scoring processes. Examiners are expected to complete an individual feedback report on the application they review, engage in the development of a consensus feedback report with their teammates, participate in a site visit, and assist in the preparation of a final feedback report after the site visit that will be shared with the selectors and applicant.  

Examiners represent both not-for-profit and for-profit organizations. It is important to the ONE process that there be Examiners that represent both sectors in order to enrich the review and feedback development processes.

Examiner Duties

• Examiners must indicate their commitment to serve as an examiner by April 24, 2009.
• Attend any of the three examiner training sessions on April 23, May 5 or May 7 to become familiar with the criteria and scoring process, the independent review process, site visit participation and preparation of both an independent as well as a consensus feedback report.
• Sign the ONE Award Code of Ethics statement to protect the confidentiality of applicant information and declare any potential conflicts as soon as possible.
• Conduct an independent review of at least one application and produce independent feedback report.
• Complete the scoring of the application consistent with the scoring guidelines for presentation to the selectors.
• Comply with all deadlines in the Award process.
• Participate in the site visit – including attendance at site visit training and preparation for site visit, conducting the actual site visit, and finally, working with the team to prepare a revised feedback report based upon site visit findings.
• Compile/edit feedback reports to develop consensus feedback report for presentation to the selectors and/or delivery to the applicant.

Examiner Time Commitment

• Examiner training session: 4 hours (April/May)
• Independent review, scoring: 4–6 hours (May/June)
• Consensus feedback report preparation: 4 hours (June)
• Site visit training: 2 hours (July)
• Site visit preparation, actual site visit: 6–8 hours (July–August)
• Preparation of revised feedback report: 2–4 hours (August)