Final answer:
The Baldrige Award applications are initially reviewed by professionals from the business, education, health care, and nonprofits sectors, ensuring a diverse and expert evaluation.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the first stage of the Baldrige Award process, applications are reviewed by leading professionals in fields such as business, education, health care, and nonprofits. These individuals, known as examiners, come from a vast range of sectors and possess expertise in the criteria of the award program. They are responsible for a critical initial evaluation of the application materials. According to the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award framework, the exact number of examiners chosen can vary, but the approach ensures a diverse representation from numerous expert backgrounds, ensuring a thorough and fair assessment process. This detail is key as it illustrates the breadth and depth of the review process.