In order to implement an integrated cycle of assessment, planning, and improvement, government agencies need a framework for organizational assessment that speaks to their unique needs. This book provides those who manage or work in government with both an understanding of and a methodology for assessment. The book introduces the assessment concept and its significance in public organizations. It then focuses on procedures and demonstrates how communication that results from an assessment process can create a widely accepted case for change. The text presents a model grounded in the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality criteria but adapted for the language and culture of government organizations.