Organizational Development for Knowledge Management at Water ...

Project Study # 5
Work Performance Improvement Principles—2007
Project Description: In 2005 the Water Division developed work performance improvement
principles and techniques through a brainstorming session. Participants shared techniques they
had found to be effective in their own work experience. The principles were adopted by the
organization were in the areas of effective communications, safety, courtesy and respect, high
quality, and accountability. The exact principles and actions submitted by the City of Moline
Water Division are listed below. During the brainstorming, techniques to accomplish each
principle were also discussed.
• We should make every effort to communicate with others in a clear, concise, direct,
honest and attentive manner.
• We should create a healthy, safe, and injury-free work environment.
• We should extend to others the same courtesy and respect that we would like to
receive ourselves.
• We should each strive to be a professional and productive team player with good
interpersonal skills.
• We should understand the goals and mission of the organization. We should also
understand what our individual role and responsibilities are within the organizations and
we should accept and act on those responsibilities in an efficient manner.
Challenge: Putting these principles and techniques into practice during daily work activities.
Size of Utility: 32 employees
Critical Success Factors: Individuals can make positive permanent changes in their work
performance by selecting a specific improvement area(s) and consciously applying
improvement techniques for a period of time. Such an approach will ultimately allow these
efforts to be transformed into good habits in a systematic manner. As the number of individuals
practicing a given performance improvement principle grows, the more that principle will
become a part of the organization’s workplace culture.
Cost: No costs noted.
Benefits: Improved individual and organizational work performance and a better work
environment.
Compiled April 2007
_________________________
POC:
Greg Swanson
City of Moline Water Division
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