Workforce Innovation Award Details

Elgibility

Any person, group, or organization who works or does work with the workforce system.  There is no IAWP membership requirement for this award.

If this is a project or activity that is taking place over multiple years, the majority of the work or demonstrated results must have taken place during the contest year.

Categories

There are three (3) categories to submit a nomination:

  1. Individual
  2. Group/Team
  3. Organization

Nomination Submission Components

The Innovation in Workforce Systems must include the standard nomination form AND the following submission components:

  1. Overview of the Innovation: A (one) summary paragraph (500 words or less) that adequately describes the innovation and its outcomes and benefits with sufficient detail that anyone reading it will understand the innovation.
  2. Nomination: Provide a narrative that describes the innovative. Where applicable, include references to the criteria listed below.
  3. Endorsement Letters: Attach up to two (2) letters of endorsement (optional and not to exceed 4 pages) from someone in a leadership position who can attest to the value of the innovation. Endorsement letters are not required.
  4. Documentation: Provide documents that support or illustrate the information contained in the narrative.

Criteria

In selecting Innovation in Workforce Systems Award, the following criteria will be considered by the Selection Team.  Please describe or expand upon each of these in the Innovation Overview and Nomination sections of your submission.

  1. Out-of-the-box-thinking: Does this innovation represent out-of-the-box or cutting edge thinking? (20 points)
  2. Leadership: Did this accomplishment demonstrate innovative leadership? Did this nominee’s leadership set the stage for further innovative work? (10 points)
  3. Enthusiasm: Has this innovation led to a new product, process or idea? Can it be integrated widely? Does it have the potential to generate revenue or initiate other ideas or exemplary work? (10 points)
  4. Impact: Will the innovation bring fundamental change and/or move the organization or the world of workforce development forward? Does it identify new ways to improve the quality of services or programming? Does it identify new approaches for completing work more efficiently and/or effectively? Is the work practical and sustainable? (5 points)
  5. Replicability: Can the innovation be replicated within other areas of workforce development or at other organizations? Would it be valuable to do so? Does the innovation plan for successful implementation? Does it demonstrate long-term success? (5 points)

Scoring

There are 50 points available.  Twenty (20) points for criteria 1. Ten (10) points each for criteria 2 and 3.  Five (5) points for each for criteria 4 and 5.