Department of Environment, Western Australia
Creating proactivity champions
June 2002 – December 2002
The brief:
The WA Department of Environment, facing low community trust after a series of damaging environmental controversies, recognised the need to become more proactive in handling potential outrage issues, and more responsive to community concerns. Futureye was engaged to undertake a culture change exercise.
Our solution:
Futureye created a ‘proactivity champions’ training program, focusing on three tiers of leadership in the organisation, to build understanding of risk communication concepts, develop sophisticated skills and competencies in proactive issues management and stakeholder engagement, and overcome organisational barriers to the widespread adoption of the new methodologies.
The result:
Over 200 of the Department’s staff undertook a two-day risk communication theory and proactive issues management training course in groups of no more than 20. Seven ‘proactivity champions’ were trained through five-days of training, co-facilitating two 2-day training programs and passing an exam. These champions became the internal experts, continuing the training program, and forming an issues-management squad inside the Department to solve its most challenging and complex problems.
The WA Department of Environment, facing low community trust after a series of damaging environmental controversies, recognised the need to become more proactive in handling potential outrage issues, and more responsive to community concerns. Futureye was engaged to undertake a culture change exercise.
Our solution:
Futureye created a ‘proactivity champions’ training program, focusing on three tiers of leadership in the organisation, to build understanding of risk communication concepts, develop sophisticated skills and competencies in proactive issues management and stakeholder engagement, and overcome organisational barriers to the widespread adoption of the new methodologies.
The result:
Over 200 of the Department’s staff undertook a two-day risk communication theory and proactive issues management training course in groups of no more than 20. Seven ‘proactivity champions’ were trained through five-days of training, co-facilitating two 2-day training programs and passing an exam. These champions became the internal experts, continuing the training program, and forming an issues-management squad inside the Department to solve its most challenging and complex problems.
“High expectations were placed upon the ability of the Futureye to deliver significant and lasting change to this area of [the department’s] corporate culture. These expectations were exceeded. Futureye’s close attention to skills transfer ensured sustainable, ongoing development and delivery of training and corporate systems, far beyond the scope of the initial tender.” Jon Elder Former Community Relations Advisor, Department of Environment, WA |