Is Your Board Ready for a Flat World?

To get a quick snapshot of how well your State or local Workforce Board may be functioning in some key areas, take a look at our self-assessment below. It may tell you that you’re doing well or it may help you pinpoint some areas for further exploration.

You may also wish to take our Self Assessments for One-Stops and for Staff Training and Capacity-Building.

Is Your Board Considered a Leader in the Local Workforce System?

1. Do your local businesses consider you the "go-to" place for helping to understand the local workforce and for setting area workforce policies?
2. Do your economic development agencies regularly partner with you in attracting and retaining businesses in your workforce area?
3. Does your community perceive you as leading the development of workforce policies and programs?
4. Do the major stakeholders in your community clearly understand your Board's vision for workforce policy?

Does Your Board Understand How Globalization is Changing Business and the Workforce System?

1. Have you discussed with your  Board members how business practices such as functional work processes, standard-setting, supply chains and value-add collaborative partnerships are changing how companies do business?
2. Has your Board discussed the three types of jobs in a global economy--fungible, anchored and   value-add--and how these may impact your workforce policies?
3. Has your Board made basic and workplace literacy a fundamental priority, given the increased complexity of skills required for self-sustaining work in a flat world?
4. Has your Board begun to adapt Board and One-Stop policies to reflect how organizations function in a global economy?
   

If you answered no to one or more of these questions, you may be interested in our Resources on the Global Economy and how the flat world is impacting business and the workforce system.

How Well Is Your Board Functioning? 

1. Do you have a strategic plan that accurately reflects your goals, directions and workforce strategies?
2. Are you able to easily recruit and engage Workforce Board members, particularly key members of your local business community?
3. Do you provide new Board members with an Orientation to your Board and a Board Handbook to understand how your Board operates?
4. Do your Board agendas focus more on strategic planning and identifying skill needs, than on reviewing program performance?
5. Does your Board have the right mix of committees and are the committees structured to maximize your planning and resources?
6. Do you regularly engage your Board members in issue-based discussions and strategic planning retreats?

If you answered no to one or more of these questions, you may be interested in our Board Member Development and Engagement Services.

How Well Is Your Board Working with Local Businesses? 

1. Is your Workforce Board considered by businesses to be a key player in developing the economic and workforce capacity of your local area?
2. Has your Board worked with business to define the key workforce data and formats that would help business and the Board plan more effectively for maintaining a competitive workforce?
3. Does your Board have the right processes and systems in place necessary to collect and analyze workforce information that is important to business?
4. Does your Board have a strong, collaborative relationship with key workforce players, such as educational institutions, economic development agencies and professional organizations, and is that relationship with both local players and players from other areas who may bring value to businesses?

 If you answered no to one or more of these questions, you may be interested in our Workforce Strategic and Systems Planning Services.

How Well Is Your Board Doing in Holding One-Stop Systems Accountable for Providing High Quality Services and Achieving Federal, State and Local Outcomes?

1. Do you have clear accountability systems in place for your One-Stops that reflect not only State and federal requirements, but local standards for quality as well?
2. Do your One-Stops have continuous quality improvement plans and a focus on evaluating both process and outcomes?
3.  Have you developed clear standards of services for each of the major service functions provided in your One-Stop?
4.  Have you developed chartering criteria and processes for your One-Stops, as will potentially be required under the re-authorization of the Workforce Investment Act?
5.  Do you regularly evaluate the programs and services provided through your One-Stops to ensure that they are achieving outcomes and being provided according to the standards set by your Board?

If you answered no to one or more of these questions, you may be interested in our       services for Oversight of One-Stop Systems and Programs.

What Agreements Do You Have with Your Local One-Stop Partners and How Well Are Those Agreements and Defined Expectations Working For You?

1. Does your Board have an effective Governance structure that minimizes conflicts of interests and establishes clear lines of authority?
2. Do your One-Stop Partners have clearly defined roles and responsibilities?
3. Has your Board clearly defined their expectations for each of the One-Stop Partners?
4. Are your One-Stop Partners able to work effectively within their areas of responsibility and are they carrying out the roles that your Board has set for them?
5. Do you have clear, well-developed MOUs in place for your One-Stop Operator and One-Stop Partners?

If you answered no to one or more of these questions, you may be interested in our services for Establishing and Re-Aligning Governance Structures.