It is advised that the team goes through all the criteria in each theme from Stage 2 through to Stage 5 during the first assessment. Although the team may be able to answer ‘Yes’ to the Stage 2 criteria only, going through the rest will allow them to see what will be coming in future.
During future reassessments, the team can choose to progress through an assessment by following the themes sequentially, or by following the stages sequentially.
For example, they could assess the criteria in all the themes for Stage 2 and then proceed to those in all the themes for Stage 3. Alternatively, they could assess the criteria from Stage 2 to Stage 5 for 'Theme 1: Vision and Strategy', then proceed to assess the criteria in Stage 2 to Stage 5 for 'Theme 2: Leadership', and so on.