1. Implementing Problem-Solving Techniques in an Urban Central Office Department by Establishing Teams and Infusing TQM Concepts.
- Author
-
Smith, Jewell R.
- Abstract
This practicum is designed to assist central office personnel in evaluating the work environment for better coordination to accomplish work, plan for a change effort, and implement a participatory change initiative. The work setting involved a K-12 urban school district (193 schools) containing 431 central-office administrators and more than 10,000 noninstructional personnel, of which 14 department administrators and 15 support-staff members participated in activities to assess: (1) willingness to increase the emphasis on teamwork, (2) readiness in preparing for change, (3) identification of areas in need of change, and (4) leader behaviors with respect to a team effort. Total Quality Management-based activities involved unit members in group processes, group dynamics, and team-building and problem-solving techniques. Through group discussion, the unit members synthesized information relative to the effectiveness of teamwork in the accomplishment of unit, department, and district goals. Results reveal that unit members are more productive and effective when they function as a team. They were also more apt to look for areas in need of change and to initiate a change effort. Appendices provide the study's questionnaires. (Contains 23 references.) (GLR)
- Published
- 1994