Content Editors for this page:
R. Barry Crook and
Dale Weeks, 850-488-5846.
Chair's Corner
Dale Weeks
Continual Renewal and Revitalization - Join Our Journey!
Since I wrote my last "Chair's Corner" update to our division in
early July 2001, many things have occurred that have had an immediate impact on
our operations. Initially, as we all are keenly aware, the events surrounding
September 11 last year have changed many of us as individuals and public
servants in ways that we will most likely never be the same. Each of us, in his
or her own way, has taken another look at our personal and organizational
priorities, and government is now viewed from a much different perspective by
many people. That having been said, I will not reiterate any additional
September 11 conclusions here. That has been covered in great depth in many
other venues.
However, I would like to take this opportunity to briefly summarize where I
think we are as a division and ask for your continuing active support and
involvement. To draw from the historians, cities, states, countries, and
civilizations for that matter, normally "ebb and flow" according to
certain patterns. The Government Division as a microcosm is no different. We as
an entity were formed in 1989-90 through the pioneering leadership of Tom
Mosgaller, Michael Williamson, Becky Meyers, Barry Crook and many others, and
have moved forward since then. We made significant strides with our affiliation
with ASQ in the mid-1990s, our PSN division structure, leading to membership
continuing to exceed 1,000 this year.
Over this same 10+ year period we have many products and service
accomplishments. To name two that I have been close to: (1) We have played a
role in increasing the awareness of what quality or performance excellence
means in the public sector--it looks like there is a good probability that
there will be a Baldrige public or nonprofit application within the next three
years our less; (2) Our 21st century project from 1997-98 remains as a stellar
effort in identifying and documenting "best-of-class" examples of
government working with citizens to improve public services. Its results are
still used today as a reference tool and exemplify the strength of one of our
capabilities as a division. And, beyond these two accomplishments, this
newsletter has been regularly produced for several years (no mean feat) and we
have hosted many very lively and productive discussions on our listserve. This
is in addition to the many friendships and/or professional networking
relationships that we have established over the years.
But where does that leave us today, as of February 2002? To me, again using
the lexicon of the historians, we are at that "Strategic Crossroads."
After our 10 or more years of existence, we are now at that critical juncture
that I will take the liberty to call our Renewal and Revitalization stage.
Every organization faces it at one time or another or should, if it wants to
survive as a going, productive, meaningful endeavor.
In my view, then, this means our major choices as a division are - We are
poised (looking at our own strategic plan and our evolving "Leadership
Dialogue Series") to move on to continued stronger growth and development
(or onward and upward, if you prefer) OR we can choose to remain on our
"plateau of achievement from the past" and continue to search for
"just the right" direction for our future.
I believe stronger growth is what we all would like to achieve. Consider,
for instance, the following "select few" broad-based customer needs
or challenges that exist today related to management in government (there are
numerous others):
- Policy Direction Versus Management. In many jurisdictions, setting
policy still takes precedence over building and deploying a systematic
management framework.
- Civil Service Versus the High-Performance Organization. There is a
crying need to review the purpose of civil service and perception of civil
service careers. In the post September 11 context, we should be competing for
the "best and the brightest" from the top public sector management
schools in the country.
- Human Asset Management. Most public sector organizations have just
begun to tap the vast potential of the many millions of employees who work
there, and view them as long-term, sustainable assets. This exists on a global
scale.
- Extending and Expanding Performance Excellence to All Three Branches of
Government. Do we have value-added partnerships between all three branches
of government, to include not just agencies, but the legislative and judicial
sectors as well? This is a long-term agenda at both the state and the national
level...how and when do we engage that customer base in a systematic manner?
These are enormous challenges that I believe could be the spark for our
Government Division renewal and revitalization in the coming weeks, months, and
years...for the first decade of the 21st century! They can be energizing, fun,
and, as we often say here in my agency, "really make a difference" in
the lives of our local and global citizens. Isn't that why you joined the
Government Division in the first place? Isn't this a direction/vision that
"gets your juices going" again for our Government Division? Isn't
that the role of the public servant in our post-September 11 global context?
If you say, yes, yes, to these questions, and sign me up, then, please make
a commitment as a participant in our next GovDiv Business Meeting to be held
April 5-6 in Washington, DC, at Connecticut Avenue Days Inn. This will be our
first business meeting since May 2001 and our overall focus will be on how we
renew and revitalize our division direction for the next several years.
We need your ideas, involvement, and support, at whatever level you are
willing to participate. Come join our never-ending journey. Any and all input
for this business meeting is encouraged. You are welcome to send me your
thoughts directly at weeksd@dor.state.fl.us, or you may
contact Linda Milanowski at ASQ (lmilanowski@asq.org) or any of our
division board members or regional
councilors.
I will report to you in our next newsletter on the results of this important
renewal and revitalization session in April.
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