Leadership, Administration, and Management

Question 1

What are the types of Organizational Forms?

Answer 1

1. Horizontal or Flat: has few or no levels if management between management and staff level employees. Employees are less supervised and have increased involvement in the decision-making process.
2. Vertical or hierarchical: is like a pyramid. Every employee is subordinate to someone else within the organization except the very top level.
3. Matrix: encourage interdisciplinary approaches to problem solving. They are difficult to manage and can be ineffective for large organizations.

Question 2

How many elements are there in a Strategic Plan?

Answer 2

1. Analyze the community’s needs
2. Identify results
3. Admit uncertainties
4. Involve strategic stakeholders
5. Develop and evaluate alternatives
6. Identify the role of the city
7. Develop a funding policy
8. Evaluate performance

Strategic Planning is used to assist an organization in guiding its future while also understanding the changes in operations needed to achieve the desired future.

Question 3

What is “Big Data”?

Answer 3

Rapid collection of large amounts of data.

This is a product of information technologies that monitor all kinds of urban activists: traffic, noise, lighting levels, air quality, bus headways (distance between buses) and pedestrian activity.

Question 4

What is ICT?

Answer 4

Information and Communication Technologies

Question 5

What are Smart City technologies?

Answer 5

They are implemented with the goal of achieving cost efficiencies, making infrastructure more resilient, and generally improving urban conditions.

Sensors are a critical component of smart city technology.

Question 6

What does Smart Cities focus on?

Answer 6

Information and Communication Technologies and the Internet of Things—devices that use the internet to support the delivery of public services and the livability of communities.

Question 7

Smart Cities use ICT to:

Answer 7

1. Engage citizens
2. Deliver services
3. Enhance urban systems

Which results in:

1. Cost efficiencies
2. Resilient infrastructure
3. Improved urban experience

Question 8

What is the advantage of a flat organization?

Answer 8

More employees responsibility, remove excess management, easier decision-making

Question 9

What is the disadvantage of having a matrix organizational structure?

Answer 9

Slow decision making due to info sharing; possible confusion/frustration due to dual authority

Question 10

What are the three Cs of a good staff report?

Answer 10

Compliance, consistency, compatibility

Question 11

What are the organizational models in planning?

Answer 11

Management, current planning, advanced/long range planning

Question 12

What is an example of a functional approach to organizational structure?

Answer 12

Planning on one group, information systems in another and financial investments in another.

Question 13

What are 3 different ways of organizing for sustainability?

Answer 13

Within a planning department
Within an executive office
As a stand alone department

Question 14

List examples of Loss Exposure

Answer 14

Casualty risk
Liquidity risk
Market risk
Political/litigation risk
Technological risk

Question 15

How is casualty risk different from liquidity risk?

Answer 15

Casualty risk is the risk of accidents involving property or personnel;
Liquidity risk is the risk of not having enough cash to cover operations

Question 16

What is an example of “political risk” in planning actions?

Answer 16

The inability to achieve the goals of planning.

Question 17

Under what circumstance are measurement and performance tools not seen as being credible?

Answer 17

If they are not valued by the local community, or don’t have localized relevance.

Question 18

What are some Measurement and Performance Tools?

Answer 18

Metrics
Indicators
Benchmarks
Rating Systems
EIS, Health Impact Statement
Municipal bond ratings

Question 19

What is the appropriate sequence for developing a strategic plan?

Answer 19

Analyze needs, objectives and the organizations SWOT (strengths weaknesses opportunities threats)

Involve stakeholders

Develop a funding policy

Evaluate performance

Question 20

What are likely themes for planning agency organization?

Answer 20

Subject area or specialization

Functional approach

Long range vs current planning

Question 21

What technique would be used for more than 100 participants over two to five days to bring people together to agree on changes?

Answer 21

Appreciative Inquiry Summit

Question 22

To help bring Commissioners together who are constantly fighting over projects in each other’s districts, what would they be invited to participate in?

Answer 22

City Walk

This technique is used to sensitize people to community problems and opportunities. A group of community leaders re-experience their community and then draw on their observations. These observations are then shared in a workshop.

Question 23

What is critical in effective planning agency management?

Answer 23

1. Staff training and professional development
2. Team building exercises
3. Annual performance evaluations
4. Training on workplace polices and laws regarding sexual harassment

Question 24

Participatory Technology Assessment

Answer 24

This is a technique to engage a representative group of lay people in the processes of science and technology decision making

Question 25

What agencies have provided financial assistance for affected workers?

military town concerned about the 2015 Base Closure and Reuse Commission (BRAC)

Answer 25

1. Office of Economic Adjustment
2. Department of Labor
3. Economic Development Administration
4. Federal Aviation Administration

Question 26

_________________ do not yet exist for planning departments.

Answer 26

Formalized accreditation programs

Accreditation already exists for Park and Recreation agencies, Police Departments, Public Health Departments and Public Schools

Question 27

What organizational tactic can be effective in breaking down silos?

Answer 27

A matrix organization has staff working across departments on functional teams.

Question 28

What is described as the “holy grail” of effective planning agency management?

Answer 28

Having the best possible team

The key to success is hiring the right people and then:
Valuing
Training
Empowering
Feeding
Protecting those people