A "PERFECT" Planning Model: Park Employees Recommending Future Enhancements to Communication and Teamwork

About the Program

Category: Personnel Management, Employment and Training (Best in Category)

Year: 2015

In September 2014, the Anoka County Parks and Recreation Department completed an 18 month employee-driven organizational planning process. The purpose of the plan was to improve the quality of the workplace, enhance communication, build teamwork, and develop a more effective workforce. Recognizing that the County had neither the budget nor expertise to conduct a workforce development process, a partnership was established with the Anoka Ramsey Community College and their Professional Workforce Development Center. The services of the College were provided to the County on a pro-bono basis and included: designing and implementing employee surveys, facilitating employee work sessions, and assisting in strategic planning. An extensive series of employee surveys, outreach sessions, and staff meetings began in the spring of 2013. A cross-sectional employee team of front-line staff and managers was created to develop, analyze and prioritize implementation strategies for the department. The Committee was referred to as the PERFECT Committee (Park Employees Recommending Future Enhancements to Communication and Teamwork). The major steps in the planning process included: • Development and analysis of two all-employee on-line surveys • Outreach sessions with all department work units (8) • Establishment of the PERFECT committee who met in seven work sessions • Committee member outreach sessions with individual employees • Creation and analysis of themes, priorities, and strategies for implementation • Production of a draft plan in conjunction with the County LEAN program staff • Review of draft strategies and final draft plan in two all employee meetings The process resulted in the establishment of four major areas of focus, along with 24 priority strategies. The implementation phase of this project began shortly after the plan was adopted. A newly formed PERFECT Committee is now delivering results on the strategies in the plan and lending accountability to the process. A continuous improvement model will be deployed to evaluate progress and make changes in strategies going forward.