Best Practices

The ACORN test

The ACORN test is an easy to remember way to evaluate the charter of an improvement project. A Accomplishment. Does the goal actually focus on results? C Control. Does the team have control of what is needed to implement and complete the project? O Objective. Is the objective the ultimate achievement of the project or is it actually a sub goal? R Reconciliation. No other improvement teams have the same goals as your team and so there re no conflicts.
June 23, 2012

The ACORN test is an easy to remember way to evaluate the charter of an improvement project.

A  Accomplishment. Does the goal actually focus on results?

C  Control.  Does the team have control of what is needed to implement and complete the project?

O  Objective. Is the objective the ultimate achievement of the project or is it actually a sub goal?

R  Reconciliation.  No other improvement teams have the same goals as your team and so there re no conflicts.

N  Numbers. To know if the goal has been achieved can it be measured?

About the Author

Denis Leonard

Denis Leonard has a degree in construction engineering an M.B.A. and a Ph.D. in quality management. Denis is a Fellow of the American Society for Quality, a Certified Quality Manager, Auditor and Six Sigma Black Belt. He has been an Examiner for the Baldrige National Quality Award Board of Examiners a Judge on the International Team Excellence Competition and a Lead Judge on the National Housing Quality Award. A former Professor of Quality at the University of Wisconsin, he has experience as a quality manager in the homebuilding industry as well as construction engineer, site manager and in training, auditing and consulting with expertise in strategic and operational quality improvement initiatives. His work has achieved national quality, environmental and safety management awards for clients.

Denis is co-author of 'The Executive Guide to Understanding and Implementing the Baldrige Criteria: Improve Revenue and Create Organizational Excellence'.

http://www.BusinessExcellenceConsulting.net

[email protected]

Full listing of blogs https://www.probuilder.com/author/denis-leonard

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