NCJ Number
117460
Date Published
1989
Length
334 pages
Annotation
This book instructs police managers in developing the two essential ingredients of organizational excellence: strategic thinking and culture building.
Abstract
Strategic thinking involves the setting of goals and actions pertaining to clientele, competitors, and departmental capabilities. Police culture is the total pattern of human behavior embodied in thought, speech, action, and artifacts. The six chapters on culture building focus on values and attitudes, communications competency, effective leadership, conflict resolution, the management of stress and wellness, and power and authority. The eight operative values emphasized for police culture are integrity, people, quality, excellence, client, competitive edge, innovation, and commitment. The examination of communications addresses the various communication channels in police organizations and how and when they are used, followed by instruction in an effective leadership-selection process. A discussion of seven steps in conflict resolution or negotiation precedes a discussion of how to manage stress in the context of police managers' job responsibilities. Chapters on strategic thinking cover the rationale and implementation of strategic planning, budgeting, organizing for results, management relations with the police union, working with the community as a partner, and dealing with politics. The concluding chapter focuses on the importance of future trends in police management. Chapter discussion questions, notes, subject index.