Top ten signs an organization would benefit from improvements in it’s organizational design:
1. Things aren’t working as well as they should. Are my expectations out of line? What kinds of results do other people managing similar processes get? What are my options?
2. We’re not efficient enough for me to meet my business objectives. We work hard but we’re not generating the results we need. What’s wrong? Is it the people? The processes? The technology? Don’t our employees understand what’s important?
3. I have to solve this problem and move on. I don’t know what to do next. The same people keep trying to fix this and they always fail. We need some new thinking. I’m tired of looking at this.
4. There is too much conflict and infighting around here. Why is everyone always angry? We’re competing with ourselves again! You’d never know we work for the same organization.
5. I’m tired of dealing with angry customers, frustrated suppliers, and demoralized staff. What’s the problem? Is it as bad as it seems? What do we have to do to improve this?
6. We need a dramatic improvement. We need to do more than just fine-tune our current operation. We need a breakthrough!
7. I’ve got a great idea but no one to implement it. Everyone is too busy to take this on but it needs to happen. Where do I turn? I’m not sure I’ve got the right people to lead this.
8. My staff brings me problems but never solutions. I’ve got to engage my team in solving problems. My staff has great ideas but they never bring them forward
9. We’ve made a significant investment in technology but we’re not seeing the anticipated business benefits. Do our business processes incorporate the new systems properly? Are employees using the systems properly? Does the technology deliver what it promised
10. We’ve made changes to how we work but we’re backsliding. I need to make sure the new way of doing business sticks. What’s pulling employees back to the old ways?
Nurturing a Green Organization
Facilities and Engineering Services (FES) established a sustainability portfolio in 2008 for the Saskatoon Health Region (SHR). One of the initiatives was to eliminate the use of herbicides, a proven carcinogen, on hospital property within the City of Saskatoon. Practices were changed to cut the grass a little more often during ‘dandelion season’ and before outdoor events. We also had to weather the complaints from staff who liked the pristine green lawns we used to.
We toughed it out and established a new practice. We were recognized by the Canadian Cancer Society, The Canadian Lung Society, the Saskatchewan Environmental Society and the RN Association for our commitment to creating a healthier environment.
The attached photo was taken on the lawn of Saskatoon City Hospital and includes representatives from all of the agencies, SHR grounds crew, the applicable parts of the FES management team. It’s an event we’re all very proud of.
An Organization Is Nothing Without Employees
Organizational Role of Facilities Management
In September 2009 an article I co-authored was published in Canadian Property Management. It’s all about ways of increasing the voice of facilities management in strategic, corporate-wide decisions.
