Columbia Business School’s W. Edwards Deming Center for Quality, Productivity and Competitiveness (Deming Center) has awarded Samuel Palmisano, chairman, president and CEO of IBM, its inaugural Deming Cup. Palmisano received the award for his ability to drive IBM to reach new levels of operational excellence and for his role in creating and leading IBM’s Global Services business unit.

This award will be given annually to an individual who has made outstanding contributions in the area of operations who has established a culture of continuous improvement within their respective organization. The award grew from Columbia Business School’s drive to highlight the achievements of business practitioners who adhere to and promote excellence in operations–the Deming Center’s area of focus. Palmisano received the award last week at a dinner at Columbia University.

The Deming Cup’s nomination criteria featured eight areas of accomplishment. For example, the nominee was required to be a global leader who had applied and demonstrated the Deming principles. He or she must also have fostered an environment where operational excellence has made a decisive impact on the competitive position of the firm. Palmisano won the Deming Cup for his ability to seek innovative approaches that enhanced IBM’s ability to evolve in a rapidly changing global business environment, for building one of the world’s largest and most diversified IT services organization in the industry, IBM’s Global Services, and for realigning the company for international growth coming out of the global recession.

“On behalf of IBMers around the world, I am deeply honored to receive the inaugural Deming Cup, which embodies the Deming Center’s pioneering effort to understand and advance operational excellence in a globally integrating world,” said Palmisano. “We believe this agenda is strongly aligned with IBM’s work to build a smarter planet--helping businesses and institutions seize new capabilities to transform their operations, relationships and business models–-and practicing the same innovation within IBM itself.”