MANAGEMENT PARTNERS, INC. (2006 Fire Strategic Plan and Teambuilding)

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Activity l: Start Project and Review Background Materials We will begin the project with an initial planning session with you. We will review background materials about the department such as existing goals, the department's operating and capital budgets, previous reports prepared about the department, the report on the department's Captains' Symposium, results of the City's recent visioning process and anything else that will help us learn about and understand the Fire Department. Activity 2: Conduct Interviews We will interview each member of the Fire Department's management staff. The opportunity to speak confidentially on an individual basis is an important step to understand individual goals for the planning process. This information sets the stage for goal -setting and teambuilding activities. Activity 3: Facilitate First Workshop The first session will be a combination of visioning and a SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats) analysis. In this workshop, the Fire Department management staff will identify the values of the department, and begin the process of articulating a vision for it. We will help identify critical success factors to achieve goals. We also will facilitate the process of identifying the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats facing the department. Together, we will do a preliminary prioritization of the issues identified. The information from the SWOT analysis serves as the basis for goal setting. Following the workshop, a subgroup of staff will be asked to draft several vision statements. Management Partners will provide guidance for that staff work. Activity 4: Conduct Focus Groups with Department Employees Following the first workshop, Management Partners will conduct two focus groups of Fire Department employees. The purpose of the focus groups is to solicit opinions about department priorities that need attention. Management Partners will produce aggregated focus group results for the department. Activity 5: Facilitate Second Workshop The second workshop will begin with discussion of the draft vision statements. The intended outcome is reaching preliminary agreement on one vision statement. The remaining portion of the workshop will focus on goal setting. The results of the employee focus groups and the SWOT analysis from the first workshop will be the primary sources of input for this session. Management Partners will plan and facilitate a process through which management staff identifies goals and projects. We suggest that the department establish several multi- year goals, and specific projects to achieve each of the goals. We assist staff in prioritizing projects that fit department resources and are within the scope of its responsibilities. Activity 6. Coordinate Resource Worksheets for Each Goal and Project Because achievement of goals and projects depends in large part on resources available, this activity is crucial. Management Partners will provide a template to the management team to be used to think through resource identification. The template will prompt staff to identify resources needed to carry out priority goals and projects,