City of Eau Claire Organizational Restructuring Analysis
Over the past six months we have been working with Craig Rapp, a national organizational consultant, to complete a high-level review of the City of Eau Claire’s organizational structure and provide recommendations regarding organizational restructuring, strategic alignment of resources and priorities, and alternative approaches for service delivery. Craig and his team of veteran local government practitioners reviewed City background documents (budget, capital improvement plans, ordinances, comprehensive plans, operational plans) and conducted extensive interviews of key staff. Drawing on best practices throughout the country, Craig’s team prepared a report to assist the City in optimizing its organizational performance to meet future challenges of declining revenues, growing service demands, and aging infrastructure.
Craig’s report focuses on eight recommended actions for the City to consider implementing over the next 18 to 24 months:
- Develop a strategic plan with a detailed action plan;
- Set service priorities and clarify the level of service for each area;
- Initiate a comprehensive workforce development plan;
- Realign organizational structure with core mission, strategies, and service priorities;
- Initiate a focused change management process;
- Embed a culture of continuous service improvement into the restructured organization;
- Continue and expand the process improvement program;
- Complete space needs improvements essential to the reorganization process.
The Eau Claire City Council and senior management staff have already begun work on updating the City’s strategic plan to set strategic priorities for 2012-2014 and identify key intended results and strategic initiatives. I anticipate that a revised strategic plan will be completed by this August and will set the stage for future key initiatives in workforce development, process improvement, and organizational realignment.