Benchmarking Quality Management Among Accredited Economic Development Organizations

Abstract

In search of competitive excellence, economic developers often ask for guidance and assistance on key enterprise management and operational issues relating to running a quality economic development program. They re interested in operating as effectively as possible, in yielding the highest possible impact, and in having a knowledge system in place for tracking their performance to enable continual improvement.

To assist in this arena, the Calibration Program has been designed to help local economic development organizations (EDO) achieve higher performance and excellence drawing on quality management standards from the International Economic Development Council’s (IEDC) Accredited Economic Development Organization (AEDO) program, the International Organization of Standardization(ISO), and Malcolm Baldrige.

To provide benchmarks for economic development organizations served by the program, Georgia Tech conducted an assessment survey of 18 Accredited Economic Development Organizations (AEDOs) from across the United States to help benchmark practices in economic development management. These organizations were selected for participation in the survey because they have been recognized by the International Economic Development Council for their excellence and, therefore, are a representation of the “best of the best” in economic development.