Learning

The term “learning” refers to new knowledge or skills acquired through evaluation, study, experience, and innovation. The Baldrige Criteria include two distinct kinds of learning: organizational and personal. Organizational learning is achieved through research and development; evaluation and improvement cycles; workforce, patients, other customers, and other stakeholder ideas and input; best practice sharing; and benchmarking. Personal learning is achieved through education, training, and developmental opportunities that further individual growth.

To be effective, learning should be embedded in the way an organization operates. Learning contributes to organizational performance success and sustainability for the organization and its workforce. For further description of organizational and personal learning, see the related Core Value and Concept.