Kathleen's+Resource+List+for+Change

Kathleen Lepori EDC 688: Managing Technology for Change Instructor: Anderson


 * RESOURCES NEEDED FOR CHANGE**

//Create effective intergroup collaborations.//

Creating intergroup collaborations (IC) will take active engagement by all twelve, program managers and their associated staff. A facilitator should be chosen from each of WestEd’s programs to act as liaison between their department and other WestEd departments. They will provide updates on their program’s current and ongoing projects to the WestEd community. It will be the responsibility of the twelve facilitators as to how to best form effective intergroup collaborations. Facilitators should have bi-weekly meetings in order to stay abreast of special needs, program demands and modifications to the IC’s. The value added will be opportunity to improve and enhance understanding among our increasingly diverse programs. Hopefully, these intergroup collaborations will encourage employees from various programs to contribute to the collective knowledge and depth of understanding that is WestEd’s greatest asset. The time factor to form these groups, train the facilitators and the ongoing exchange of information will be offset by the benefits that will be yielded as a result of knowledge sharing.

//Posting an anonymous employee online suggestion box.//

Polling sidebar software such as PollDaddy Pro can be purchased for $200 year and be placed on the WestEd’s Employee home page. This continuous polling site would function as a way for employees to daily communicate ideas, suggestions, questions and answers, etc. WestEd employees could then “vote” or “rate” the posted item with the ability to see the results of the poll immediately. This would empower workers as stakeholders in their organization and would give management and policyholders the capacity to see how employees feel about any given circumstance or condition.

//Employee engagement surveys.//

Online surveys can mechanize collated data that can be instantly analyzed thereby providing management with an effective method to help bring about a more satisfying work environment. Emphasizing anonymity for employee participation is an excellent way of reaching a consensus, understanding a problem, or identifying a need within an organization. Zoomerang’s bulk licensing agreement is an affordable way to perform this task (approximately $350 for the non profit rate). Surveys can bolster moral and be effective in developing employee motivation and productivity.

//Create a central whiteboard for questions and answers.//

Creating a central online whiteboard in a common, easily accessible area where WestEd staff can place updates, changes in policy, opportunities for training, etc., is indispensible. This can be accomplished quickly and reasonably through WestEd’s existing Wimba Classroom. Training on how to utilize the centralized whiteboard can be accomplished by providing a series of online sessions facilitated by Information Services staff. A percentage of WestEd’s Indirect Fees can provide funds for the access and limited training. There are zero costs for the central whiteboard as WestEd already has Wimba Classroom.

//Establish a Knowledge Bank.//

The benefits for knowledge sharing include learning as a collaborative, cross-organizational, continuous, and active process. The pursuit of knowledge is intrinsic. Human beings enjoy learning and sharing our insights with others. The Knowledge Bank (accumulated pertinent information) should be housed in a location that can be updated and revised by employees. A TWiki (secure wiki) can be used for this purpose.

//Sharing new technologies.//

New technologies like Google Wave an open source browser, Apple’s iWork (in beta testing), Cloud computing, etc., can be shared via the Knowledge Bank (KB).