I read the following note about industry award programs from a member of a trade association recently:
"...awards programs function as a way for groups to recognize and value
contributions by the membership for some perceived greater good.
While it has been argued that they are all just an elaborate attempt at
self-aggrandizement, I am convinced that those people who make the effort to
enter take the first step toward personal and business evaluation.
For me it's never been about winning and losing as much as it's about establishing
comparable or improving bench marks of relative quality. 'Where do I stack
up against the competition?' is determined by the way I craft a submission." K. Brown
Award programs have always been uncomfortable jousts at best, and agony
for the most part for me. Having grown up in a family of six kids, and
being one of the youngest -- I had to compete for everything. When I
grew up I came to highly value collaboration -- and didn't see
collaboration as having a role in it for blatant competition.
Then I went into business!
I can now tell you that competition has benefits as well as high stress levels for participants and the community.
Certification programs are about the benefits of competition:
Award programs for innovation can educate group members on trends and breakout solutions -- and I like that concept!
Other award programs can also provide some of all of these benefits. Some award programs provide participants with special benefits such as a special seminar, or coaching, or feedback about their program or entry into the program.
And the crass award programs are money schemes without a system, without credible content and without benefits to the purchasing public.
The best programs are probably connected with organizations such as trade associations, nonprofit or government programs, or a visionary market leader. But not all of these groups can be assumed to provide credible award programs -- they, too need to be "competitive" in the field of stellar award programs :-)
Then I went into business!
I can now tell you that competition has benefits as well as high stress levels for participants and the community.
Certification programs are about the benefits of competition:
- They provide a "system" that identifies a value and knowledge structure
- They provide visibility for all who care to enter the active, competitive arena
- They provide a structure within which an individual or group can sharpen their skills and offer
- They provide an "approved vendor" system for purchasers
Award programs for innovation can educate group members on trends and breakout solutions -- and I like that concept!
Other award programs can also provide some of all of these benefits. Some award programs provide participants with special benefits such as a special seminar, or coaching, or feedback about their program or entry into the program.
And the crass award programs are money schemes without a system, without credible content and without benefits to the purchasing public.
The best programs are probably connected with organizations such as trade associations, nonprofit or government programs, or a visionary market leader. But not all of these groups can be assumed to provide credible award programs -- they, too need to be "competitive" in the field of stellar award programs :-)
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