Outstanding Human Performance Communication

ISPI AWARD OF EXCELLENCE:

OUTSTANDING HUMAN PERFORMANCE COMMUNICATION

Extended Application Window:

1 August - 30 September 11:59pm EDT

ISPI Award Description

The ISPI Awards of Excellence (AOE) Program features three distinguished award categories: the Outstanding Human Performance Intervention (HPI) Award, the Outstanding Human Performance Communication (HPC) Award, and the Artificial Intelligence for Performance Improvement (AI4PI) Award.

This HPC award recognizes an outstanding communication product that enables individuals and/or organizations to achieve excellence in performance improvement. It is intended for submissions that directly support the professional practice of those working in the field of Human Performance Improvement.

A human performance communication submission should serve one or more of the following purposes: enhance the skills or knowledge of performance improvement practitioners; contribute meaningfully to the field through applied insights or resources; or address a timely or significant topic relevant to those working in performance improvement. Submissions must align with ISPI’s mission and guiding principles.

The communication may be delivered in any medium or format, including but not limited to written, audio, visual, or digital forms. The key requirement is that the communication is purposeful, accessible, and designed to inform or influence the practice of performance improvement.

What Qualifies

Projects that enhance the skills or knowledge of performance improvement practitioners.
Initiatives that contribute meaningful applied insights or resources to the field.
Solutions addressing timely or significant topics relevant to performance improvement professionals.
Efforts aligned with ISPI’s mission and guiding principles.

What Does Not Qualify

Academic research submissions intended for research or dissertation award categories.
Promotional or commercial marketing materials.
Informal posts lacking clear structure, purpose, or relevance to performance improvement.
Unpublished or inaccessible materials not yet available to their intended audience.

Application Process

This award follows a common application process:

Review these "Five UnSecrets to Winning an ISPI Award"—a checklist and optional quiz designed to help you improve your application performance, with no tracking of your views or quiz responses.
Download and complete the application proposal. (If the proposal link doesn’t open in Chrome, please try using Firefox, Safari, or Edge instead.)
Click the “Apply Now” button to enter your contact information, upload the proposal, and submit the application. Your proposal must be a single Word or PDF file (not password-protected or in portfolio format).

Qualifying Criteria

The Applicant or Nominee must be either a Gold Level Member or an Advocate Member of ISPI. To qualify, the project or initiative must:

Have been designed and substantially produced by the submitting individual, organization/team.
Have been implemented and the outcomes measured within the three years preceding the award deadline.
Have addressed all the outlined criteria listed in the applicant proposal.
Have been received by the deadline.
Is available to the general public.

Distinguishing Criteria

Your submission will be assessed across the following eight sections:

Section 1: Mission and Guiding Principles
Section 2: Contribution to the HPT Field
Section 3: Performance Objectives
Section 4: Results
Section 5: Organization
Section 6: Practical Usage
Section 7: Audience Reach
Section 8: Originality and Creativity

Each section will receive a qualitative rating—EXCELS, MEETS, or BELOW—based on overall strength, clarity, and alignment.
For complete evaluation criteria, please refer to the award rubric.

For questions about applying for an Award, please email: awards@ispi.org