Organizational Development
The WIB’s Organizational Development strategy is primarily focused internally on the quality of the organization from the inside so it strives for high performance. Organizational Development seeks to position the WIB with well-informed and action-oriented leadership that leverages public/private resources for effective, results-driven workforce and economic development initiatives.
The local workforce system and its impact for economic prosperity can only be as strong as the leadership of its Workforce Investment Board. Insight from the WIB’s self-assessment survey was analyzed in the planning retreat to help the WIB grow to be a respected workforce intermediary in regional business development that convenes strategy and brokers resources to fulfill the needs of businesses for a skilled workforce, and create economic vitality for the communities of Southwest Missouri.
The WIB values members that are well-trained, informed, and engaged in their roles. Orientation and ongoing training was the most critical issue identified in the selfassessment survey. Planning retreat participants also identified priorities for high energy meeting functions and roles to maximum the attainment of strategic goals.
Southwest Missouri’s WIB was one of four leading-edge WIBs statewide to participate in a WIB Benchmarking Project. Nina Babich and Donna Cruder with the Corporation for a Skilled Workforce (CSW), were contracted as consultants to facilitate the project. The WIB Benchmarking Project researched and identified high-profile, top-performing WIBs for a series of site visits and interviews with staff and Board members at each of the participating sites.
Insights collected from the site visits are summarized in a report on Critical Success Factors for WIBs. The success factors identified and explained in the report will ultimately provide a foundation for chartering/certification guidelines for WIBs in Missouri.
Southwest Missouri’s WIB deeply engages the benchmarking standards in way it plans strategy, launches initiatives, conducts outreach, runs events, and reports on progress. WIB members receive an in-depth report at each Board of Directors meeting charting each initiative or project, its synergy with strategic priorities, and its alignment with individual benchmarking standards.