Governing for Results 6 - Washington State Digital Archives

Military Department
Cross Functional Expectation Clarification Team
Many organizations experience a lack of common understanding and lack of
communication clarifying the roles and responsibilities between the various levels
and departments of the organization. In the military, which is historically a
vertical, top down driven management model the quality initiative has allowed for
an open process to dialog to clarify these competing expectations. This QIP
highlights the improvement process embarked on in a two-day retreat of 9
members, including group headquarters leadership and first line managers and
supervisors. The commander initiated the process in an effort to increase
teamwork, trust and collaboration.
The team at the 252 Communications Operations Group worked to establish and
diagram processes to improve and enhance communication, clarify expectations,
delineate between redundancies and specific actions in mission critical
processes, inclusive of units located in WA and OR. The improvement is
increasing efficiencies, and generally improves the overall climate of
collaboration in the work environment between headquarters and geographically
separated units.
Results
★ Increased awareness of the “parts” and the “whole” of the organization.
★ Increased communication, and clarified roles and responsibilities.
★ Focused on the mission and the personnel.
★ Set the standard and example for collaboration and customer focus.
★ Sets an organizational culture encouraging contribution and continuous
improvement.
★ Several processes, from parts acquisition to local policy design, were
collaborated on.
Team Name: 252 Combat Communications Group, Air Support Operations Group
CONTACT: Capt Dana Sawyers, (253) 512-3368
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