Organizational Development for Knowledge Management at Water ...

Project Study # 17
Rallying a Team of Exceptional Employees
Project Description: Rallying a team of exceptional employees is one of this utility’s five
strategic goals. The organization is trying to identify all the positions and people that are going
to retire or potentially leave through longevity with the company who have acquired knowledge
and skill sets essential to the success of the utility. By doing this, the organization is also
identifying the areas across the business unit that need back-filling or teaming-up to enable the
transfer of knowledge from near-term retirees to newer employees. This is accomplished
through many venues. For example, the organization may decide to add new staff to work
alongside the retiree, gaining as much knowledge about the position as possible.
Size of Utility: 1,158 employees
Critical Success Factors: Having human resources engaged to help the utility identify these
key positions that are subject to retirement. A second critical success factor is working with
financial services to create the budget for a parallel learning effort and then, in the future
possibly using an automated process to capture business knowledge.
Costs: There is a budget variance that will exist when you add additional people to the
department budget. Technically, you have two people in the same role for some amount of
time. While this may not appear efficient, it is critical to the continuing effectiveness of the utility.
Alignment: This was initiated out of the organization’s strategic planning; it also involves life
cycle management and IT planning.
Benefits: Reducing or mitigating utility risk by identifying key positions. The utility is not running
the risk of the employee leaving without gathering critical institutional knowledge and
documenting it.
Compiled April 2008
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POC:
Greg Rodeghier
Orlando Utilities Commission
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