Developing your Workforce to Manage for Meteors

Abstract: The local government workplace, and certainly public agencies, are facing increasingly more and unique disruptors in these ever-changing times. These disruptors – or metaphoric “meteors” – can take the form of natural disasters, cyber-attacks, major financial impacts, continental supply chain disturbances, a global pandemic, or things we have yet to imagine...

Under these scenarios, inevitably, the attention of local government professionals will be diverted from the daily operational activities on which their communities rely. Focusing on the development of a "Roadmap to Readiness" can prepare organizations with enhanced efficiency and effectiveness strategies, so when that major disruption occurs - agencies will be more likely to pass the preparedness test. The most productive agencies are able to address disruptions while ensuring that critical elements of daily operations continue to function.

The Roadmap to Readiness includes workforce development elements comprised of employee engagement, reviewing and interpreting survey feedback, review of organizational structures, analyses of operational budgets, development of capital improvement programs, comparison of processes against industry best practices, consideration of enhanced revenue streams, and the establishment and measurement of strategic goals and metrics. By completing these analyses and implementing a multi-year view, agencies can target key actions to improve the preparedness of their organization. Finally, this session can also help private firms understand ways in which to best assist their government industry partners.