NCJ Number
56818
Date Published
1979
Length
9 pages
Annotation
A PROJECT TO ESTABLISH A CONSORTIUM OF MEDIUM-SIZED EASTERN SEABOARD CITIES TO EXCHANGE INFORMATION ON A REGULAR BASIS ABOUT SUCH TOPICS AS PRODUCTIVITY IN BUDGETS, LABOR CONTRACTS, AND UTILITY RATES IS NOTED.
Abstract
THE PRODUCTIVITY EFFORT WAS PROPOSED BY THE CITY OF WILMINGTON, DEL., AND NO DIFFICULTIES WERE ENCOUNTERED IN OBTAINING EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST FROM TOP OFFICIALS IN POTENTIAL CONSORTIUM CITIES. DIFFICULTIES EMERGED, HOWEVER, AS SOON AS PARTICIPATING CITIES WERE ASKED TO SHARE INFORMATION. THE INITIAL ACTION OF SENDING OUT BUDGETS, UNION CONTRACTS, AND SPECIAL STUDIES FROM WILMINGTON AND ASKING OTHER CITIES TO DO THE SAME WAS GREETED BY INACTION. CONTACTS WITH PERSONNEL IN THE CITIES INDICATED THREE MAJOR PROBLEMS: (1) MOST CITIES DID NOT HAVE A STAFF COMPARABLE TO WILMINGTON'S PRODUCTIVITY STAFF AND, THUS, A CLIENTELE DID NOT EXIST FOR MUCH OF THE INFORMATION TO BE COLLECTED; (2) MANY LOWER-LEVEL OFFICIALS IN CITIES DID NOT PERCEIVE THE INFORMATION TO BE PROVIDED BY OTHER CITIES AS BEING POTENTIALLY USEFUL IN DECISIONMAKING; AND (3) COMPETING DEMANDS FOR TIME AND THE PERCEIVED LOW VALUE OF THE INFORMATION TO BE FURNISHED CAUSED INACTION IN MANY CASES. RECOGNIZING THESE PROBLEMS, PRODUCTIVITY STAFF DECIDED TO REDIRECT THE INTERCHANGE EFFORT TO FOCUS ON CITIES KNOWN FOR PAST PRODUCTIVITY EFFORTS. A QUESTIONNAIRE WAS SENT TO THESE CITIES TO DETERMINE THE NATURE AND SCOPE OF PRODUCTIVITY IMPROVEMENTS WITH REGARD TO THREE AREAS (POLICE, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, AND COMMUNITY ECONOMIC MAINTENANCE). THE EFFORT TO DEVELOP THE INTERCHANGE PROGRAM ON PRODUCTIVITY LED TO THREE CONCLUSIONS: (1) AN ORGANIZATION WITH A RESEARCH STAFF, RATHER THAN AN INDIVIDUAL CITY, IS THE APPROPRIATE VEHICLE FOR ESTABLISHING A CLEARINGHOUSE OR INFORMATION EXCHANGE PROGRAM DEALING WITH PRODUCTIVITY; (2) RESOURCE-POOR OR STRESSED CITIES, REGARDLESS OF HOW MUCH THEY NEED PRODUCTIVITY IMPROVEMENT, WILL FIND IT DIFFICULT TO MAKE THE NECESSARY FRONT-END INVESTMENTS; AND (3) BESIDES INFORMATION ABOUT THE SUBSTANCE OF PRODUCTIVITY PROJECTS, AN INFORMATION EXCHANGE PROGRAM SHOULD PROVIDE INFORMATION ON PROCESSES USED TO ADOPT CHANGES. APPENDIXES LIST CITIES PARTICIPATING IN THE WILMINGTON PROJECT AND PROVIDE DETAILS ON THE PROJECT'S INTERCHANGE SURVEY ANALYSIS. (DEP)