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For more than 10 years, ICF International has applied its expertise
to organizational development projects ranging from strategic
planning to change management, team building, and leadership
coaching.
Organizational development focuses on developing the
structures, systems, and processes within an organization
to improve organizational effectiveness. Successful organizational
development interventions can lead to better strategic
plans, more effective teams, more highly developed leaders,
higher quality, and increased employee and stakeholder
satisfaction.
ICF International truly becomes a part of your team, working
shoulder to shoulder with your staff to improve organizational
performance and achieve transformation goals.
Strategic Planning
ICF International helps organizations formulate visions,
missions, direction, and strategies and integrate them
into the organization's planning and implementation
fabric. Our offerings include mission and vision development,
strategic and tactical planning, core competency definition,
implementation support, organizational realignment, and
staff realignment. Selected projects include:
Business Process Improvement (BPI)
ICF International's portfolio approach to Business
Process Improvement (BPI) can help provide a structure
to organizations' efforts to manage change. ICF International helps develop a portfolio of BPI approaches—from
balanced scorecard to total quality management, business
process reengineering, value engineering, and process
innovation—to track measurable improvements.
Our offerings include structured improvement methods,
process innovation focus, and electronic modeling and
analysis tools. BPI helps get the most out of organizations.
Selected projects include:
- Process and Productivity Improvement, Organizational
Assessments
U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
- Management Review and Productivity Improvement
U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Drug Enforcement
Administration (DEA), Office of Diversion Control,
Liaison and Policy Section (ODL)
- Management, Technology, and Business Process Improvement
Services
U.S. Postal Service (USPS)
- Organizational Assessments and Business Process Improvement
Services
U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Kaiser-Hill, LLC Rocky
Flats Environmental Technology Site (RFETS)
- Organizational Sustainability
Assessment and Continuous Improvement Plan U.S.
Department of Energy (DOE), Office of Fossil Energy
(FE), Office of Budget and Financial Management
Culture and Work Processes
A key underpinning of ICF International's organizational
development work is its emphasis on understanding our
clients' organizational culture. We analyze the
culture of an organization—analogous to
its "personality"—to
determine how leadership, training, rewards, and customer
focus are shaped to enable the successful accomplishment
of organizational goals. What assumptions, beliefs, values,
and behaviors must be acknowledged and addressed before
organizational initiatives can succeed? We also benchmark
against other organizations to obtain insights that can
translate directly into real value.
ICF International's organizational assessment methods
help us identify work processes and routines that are
efficient and aligned with the organizations' strategic
goals, as well as uncover deficiencies that can be addressed
through learning interventions or business process redesign.
Our process mapping and analysis techniques can lead
to more efficient work efforts and more effective information
flows throughout the organization. Selected projects
include:
Internal Communication
ICF International recognizes the importance of strategic
communication efforts to the success of organizational
development initiatives. Without effective channels of
communication, communication can go underground; negative
perceptions and disinformation can distort your message;
and morale, productivity, and trust can be eroded. ICF International's award-winning communicators can
help your organization develop effective communications
that generate a higher level of flexibility and agility,
encourage respect among groups, and leverage official
and unofficial communication channels to deliver a unified
message. Selected projects include:
Managing Organizational Change Initiatives
ICF International helps both private- and public-sector
organizations manage all types of organizational change.
We provide managers and employees with the essential
skills needed during times of significant transition,
addressing the procedural, cultural, and emotional issues
surrounding new initiatives. We not only engage the workforce
in the change process, but we guide them through the
learning curve involved in any transformation, including:
ICF International helps executives and managers determine
the most effective strategies for change; align business
processes, resources, and people to support the organizational
mission; and motivate staff to perform heroically under
stress. Our intervention strategies recognize the integral
relationship of your organization's unique mission,
culture, business processes, and capital infrastructure
in implementing effective and sustainable change. Our
proven technology transition strategies help organizations
meet the technological, cultural, and interpersonal demands
of an increasingly electronic workplace. And our organizational
development services guide organizations through the
realignment of personnel, resources, and responsibilities
associated with changes in organizational focus. Selected
projects
include:
Methodology
To ensure successful implementation efforts, we align
our solutions with your organization's mission and vision,
the culture, the business processes, and the capital.
ICF's
ASPIRE® Method is rooted in our
four-part model in which the culture, the process, and
the capital must work together to support your organization's
mission and vision.
ICF International's ASPIRE® change management method
was designed to be extremely flexible and adaptive to
the needs of each specific change management project
and the strengths of each project team. The methodology
covers the full life cycle of the business process and
supporting technical components required for delivering
successful change management, including budgeting, resource
allocation, project prioritization, project planning,
execution, and monitoring.
Because of its flexibility, our method can be used throughout
the range of change management projects, such as changes
in mission and direction, mergers and acquisitions, development
and support for new business strategies, business improvement
and reinvention efforts, organizational assessment and
improvement planning, and the successful introduction
of new technologies.
ICF International also applies the Instructional
Systems Design (ISD) process to our efforts to produce measurable
performance improvement through development of behavioral
objectives, observable proficiency measures, and accurate
analysis of training requirements, training outcomes,
and target audience needs. Our approach to ISD encompasses
the development of instructional materials and the identification
and implementation of noninstructional solutions to employee
performance challenges.
Coaching and Mentoring
ICF International coaches work with individuals to plan
and execute a course of action to maximize performance.
The goals are formalized in an Action Plan, based on
the results of a 360-degree assessment. During the course
of the engagement, ICF International coaches work to increase
participants' self-awareness
as leaders, discovering and leveraging strengths and
identifying and overcoming barriers to achieving their
goals. The coaching process uses focused conversations
to help individuals find their own answers, focusing
on the skills and actions needed to successfully produce
their personally relevant results. Results are a matter
of the individual's intentions, choices, and actions,
supported by the coach's efforts and application
of coaching skills, approaches, and methods.
ICF International recommends the following practices, deemed
effective in a recent ICF International benchmarking study
on nine federal agencies' coaching programs:
- Link coaching to a 360-degree
evaluation. 360-degree
assessments should always be accompanied by an opportunity
for coaching so that participants can realize the
full value of the feedback and begin to take action
on the results, and so that agencies can help shape
the agenda and quantify the value of the program.
- Link coaching to training. A linkage between coaching
and training can improve productivity by almost four
times as much as training alone.
- Execute a coaching contract. A formal coaching contract
establishes the basis of the business relationship
between coach and client, defining logistics, etiquette,
confidentiality, and roles and responsibilities for
all relevant stakeholders.
- Develop Action Plans. ICF International
recommends that organizations require clients to work
with their coaches to draft and execute Action Plans,
based on the results of the 360-degree evaluation,
to define the objectives and outline the activities
to be used for skill improvement and professional development.
Further, ICF International recommends that the Action
Plans be integrated with participants' Competency-Based
Learning Plans as appropriate. By spelling out the
objectives of the coaching, Action Plans provide a
baseline against which client-progress can be measured.
- Match
coaches to clients. The coaching profession
holds that both trust and "chemistry" between
client and coach are necessary in order for the coaching
to be effective. For this reason, ICF International
suggests that organizations permit clients to select
their own coaches for engagements of six months or
longer. ICF International recommends a matchmaking process
whereby the organization provides the resumes and/or
biographies of available coaches, allowing clients
to conduct up to three interviews or sample sessions
before choosing their coach. This method ensures the
best chemistry between coach and client.
- The value of qualified, external
coaches. In most
cases, external coaches generally enjoy greater credibility
than internal coaches who may be perceived as promoting
a corporate agenda to the detriment of the individual
client's personal and professional needs. When
selecting coaches, ICF International considers whether
or not they have been certified and trained by the
International Coach Federation Accredited Coach Training
Programs (ACTP), which train coaches on core coaching
competencies, a code of ethics, and standards of
conduct.
- Tele-coaching. ICF International recommends
that coaching be conducted over the phone as the most
cost-effective option. Indeed, the industry standard
for coaching is undoubtedly tele-coaching. While both
in-person and tele-coaching can be effective, in-person
coaching is roughly twice the cost of an external coaching
engagement, even when coaches and clients are located
in the same city.
- Holistic approach. According to
the International Coach Federation, the chief credentialing
institution of professional coaches, coaching should
focus not just on a client's
professional life but on an individual's "whole
life" as it relates to goal setting, outcome
creation, and personal change management.
Human Capital Program Evaluation
ICF International has broad-ranging experience in program
evaluation. Drawing on our in-depth experience with government
programs and analytical rigor, ICF International is well
positioned to diagnose program strengths and weaknesses,
identify potential methods for overcoming serious obstacles,
and help clients establish goals and measure progress
toward their objectives. ICF International's approach to
program evaluation builds on classical evaluation techniques:
researching the literature, identifying successful models,
developing surveys, and conducting in-depth interviews.
We supplement these techniques with tools for assessing
internal procedures, integrating regional offices better
in program functions, enhancing stakeholder involvement,
streamlining processes, conducting sophisticated data
analysis, and helping with Government Performance and
Results Act (GPRA) activities and completion of the Performance
Assessment Rating Tool (PART).
Depending on the nature of the evaluation project, we
supplement our accomplished staff of policy and program
analysts, economists, and other social scientists with
individuals possessing specialized expertise. These specialists
include psychologists to evaluate survey design, statisticians
to analyze complex data, management consultants to review
business processes, and facilitators to guide stakeholder
or focus groups. Our senior staff includes former government
executives who have served in leadership roles in agency
reinvention activities. Selected projects include:
Collaboration and Team Building
ICF International understands that a good team is essential
to the success of almost every project. An effective
team will overcome almost any difficulty to succeed in
its goals, and a team's spirit and enthusiasm will
often be reflected in the quality of the solution and
the extent to which others buy into it. Through workshops,
consultation, and strategic planning, ICF International
experts have helped organizations develop their workforce
team-building and collaboration skills. Selected projects
include:
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SELECTED
PROJECTS |
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Strategic
Planning
Continuous Improvement Plan
U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Fossil
Energy, Office of Budget and Financial
Management
ICF International conducted an organizational
assessment that produced a set of recommendations
for improving the long-term sustainability
of the office during a period of downsizing
and restructuring. We identified some of
the key challenges facing the office over
a two- to five-year time horizon and developed
a structured plan for responding to those
challenges and a balanced scorecard and
personnel system to tie individual staff
members to office goals.
Facilitation and Strategic Planning
U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Chicago Operations Office
ICF International managed the annual strategic
and business planning process for the office,
providing assistance in identifying the
areas of strategic leverage that differentiated
the office from other offices and operations
at DOE. This helped the office better focus
its action plans and initiatives on its
strengths.
Strategic, Business, and Action Planning
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC)
ICF International facilitated a strategic
planning retreat for the VA Medical Center's
directors that was part of a year-long
strategic planning and organizational assessment
effort involving continuous facilitation
along the route. The Medical Center was
particularly concerned because it was
faced with dramatic changes in patient
care, technology, and occupancy rates and
needed a new approach and a new vision
for the future. The strategic planning
process looked at the mission, vision,
and values of the organization and its
programs, goals, and strategies. The primary
focus became the development of the Program
for Organizational Excellence,
a structured approach to the integration
of an organization's improvement efforts.
ICF International's team conducted an evaluation
and follow-on activities. Activities included
the articulation of goals and objectives
with performance expectations at all levels
(Service, Division, Center), the development
and implementation of an integrated planning
process designed to produce an annual integrated
planning baseline for the Center, the development
of service benchmarks, and educational
activities. The VAMC implemented more than
75 percent of the program's recommendations
in the two years following the strategic
planning sessions.
Consultation and Facilitation Services
U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Division of Research, Analysis, and Statistics,
Office of Program Evaluation and Risk
Analysis (OPERA)
This project involved the design and facilitation
of a management off-site meeting for the
Director of the IRS Office of Program Evaluation
and Risk Analysis (OPERA) and his senior
management staff. After preliminary meetings
with the Director of OPERA and designated
members of his staff, ICF International's
expert facilitator participated in a bi-weekly
OPERA managers meeting to share the plan,
approach, expectations, target outcome/measure
of "success," and timeline. ICF International went on to prepare and deliver
a team-building workshop to eight participants
over a two-day period. This workshop focused
on OPERA's mission, vision, role within
the organization, and long-term goals,
moving on to address such topics as communication,
collaboration, team development, change
management, functional versus matrix organizations,
leadership, internal marketing, and succession
planning. After the team-building session,
ICF International prepared and delivered a
debrief document to verify that the objectives
of the team-building session were met and
suggest recommendations for next steps.
By the end of the session, OPERA managers
had a clearer sense of direction and a
better picture of the contributions and
value OPERA adds to the IRS. Participants
learned to develop and clarify expectations
of the management team, and managers discovered
how OPERA aligns with overall IRS strategy
and how to promote OPERA's services more
effectively to internal clients.
Strategic and Business Planning
U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Environmental Measurements Laboratory (EML)
ICF International developed a strategic planning
and business planning framework for DOE's
EML, including the integration of total
quality management (TQM) techniques and
processes into strategy development. We
assisted EML staff in preparing and creating
consensus around a new business plan that
sets direction for the EML, including gathering
information from inside and outside the
organization of trends and opportunities,
as well as developing action plans to pursue
new business ideas.

Business
Process Improvement
Process and Productivity Improvement,
Organizational Assessments
U.S. Federal Aviation Administration
ICF International analyzed the acquisition
management process for the Federal Aviation
Administration to clarify roles and responsibilities
throughout the organization. Equipment
acquisition is a complex, multi-functional
process involving operators, installers,
maintainers, and developers. ICF International
interviewed managers and staff throughout
the FAA to map the current acquisition
process. The resulting process model helped
interviewees specify their "as-is" roles
and identify barriers to successful performance
of each step in the process. Recommendations,
developed with input from FAA members,
addressed acquisition process, organization,
and culture.
Management Review and Productivity Improvement
U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Office
of Diversion Control, Liaison and Policy Section (ODL)
ICF International was asked to assist ODL
in its continuing efforts to upgrade the
quality, timeliness, and responsiveness
of the services that the pffice provides
to its stakeholders. ICF International was engaged
to develop fresh perspectives on ODL business
processes, staff attributes and productivity,
management style, and other dimensions
of the office that could affect overall
performance and to develop a set of recommendations
for continued improvement of ODL processes
and operations. ICF International conducted
an organizational and staff productivity
assessment and made recommendations to
ODL to streamline its operations and improve
its performance, products, and services.
ICF International then developed key findings
and recommendations into an implementation
plan. In addition to the basic report and
recommendations, ICF International also worked
with ODL on a number of the follow-up tasks
required to implement its recommendations.
ICF International developed a Balanced Scorecard
performance management system to relate
office-level performance to overall mission
and strategic objectives. ICF International also
developed and conducted a Management Enhancement Program
for ODL senior managers to improve their
managerial skills in order to improve overall
performance and performance management.
The 12-module series was based on an analysis
of the needs of managers in terms of personnel
management and leadership. Finally, ICF International investigated ways to upgrade
and enhance ODL's existing information
management systems, ultimately developing
an enhanced regulatory tracking system
to provide more in-depth information on
the status of regulations in the process
of being developed as well as pending,
related legislation.
Management, Technology, and Business Process
Improvement Services
U.S. Postal Service (USPS)
ICF International has been working with the
U.S. Postal Service for more than
21 years. This partnership began with the
Technical Resource Center (TRC), which
comprised more than 80 dedicated staff
managing the research and development activities
that were necessary to bring the USPS into
the 21st century. ICF International identified
and applied new technologies and methods
to resolve key
USPS requirements to advance
its Corporate Automation Plan, such as
new and more accurate systems to read both
printed and hand-written addresses, logistical
network solutions, new sorting machines,
and new information networks.
ICF International continues to provide systems
engineering and technical guidance as well
as program management support to the USPS
Engineering, Marketing, Intelligent Mail,
and other headquarters organizations. ICF International supports the USPS with planning,
developing, and managing new operations
concepts and business process improvements.
We also support the development, testing,
and deployment of new technologies, including
biological detection equipment. Learn more
about how ICF International serves the postal industry.
Organizational Assessments and Business
Process Improvement Services
U.S. Department of Energy, Kaiser-Hill, LLC Rocky Flats Environmental Technology
Site (RFETS)
For more than six years, ICF International
provided a wide range of organizational
development and business process improvement
(BPI) services to senior management at
RFETS. One significant effort involved
providing organizational development services
to Kaiser-Hill's human resources,
labor relations, and diversity offices,
which have gone through significant changes
including downsizing, reengineering, and
realignment of responsibilities. ICF International
conducted a program evaluation on the three
functions and made specific recommendations
to improve the performance of those functions
as they related to the challenges created
by downsizing and site closure. ICF International's
evaluation included a thorough assessment
of the three functions in terms of their
mission, culture, capital, and processes.
ICF International developed a comprehensive
improvement plan that has served as the
basis for practical and effective internal
resource planning and as a communication
tool for the integration of the three functions.
To support the BPI manager, ICF International
reviewed the performance management processes
in place at RFETS and developed a series
of lessons learned for K-H managers to
incorporate in subsequent performance measurement
planning. ICF International supported the
Financial Systems Modernization Program
Office with such services as strategic
planning and organizational design, program
progress review, and program director coaching.
Also, ICF International provided value-engineering
(VE) support for a number of key operational
processes. Lastly, ICF International supported
a number of finance and administration
BPI projects, including accounts payable
reengineering and information resource
management (IRM) project management processes.
Organizational Sustainability Assessment
and Continuous Improvement Plan
U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Office of Fossil Energy (FE), Office of Budget
and Financial Management
Over the past several years, DOE's
Office of Fossil Energy's (FE)
Office of Budget and Financial Management
(FE-3) has undergone significant changes
brought on by government-wide initiatives
to streamline government, reduce excess
staff, and increase overall productivity.
However, although FE-3 was successful in
improving performance while streamlining
operations, the Office Director was concerned
about the ability of FE-3 to provide the
same services in the near future. ICF International
was asked to establish a baseline of office
services and stakeholder satisfaction,
which would then serve as the foundation
for further improvements that would enhance
the sustainability of office services into
the future. ICF International produced a Continuous
Improvement Plan based on input collected
from staff interviews, stakeholder interviews,
direct observation of FE-3 interactions,
and benchmarks with other financial offices
within DOE and other agencies. The Plan's
recommendations focused on several key
requirements for sustainability, including
communication with stakeholders; continuous
learning activities for staff; performance
management enhancement; improved knowledge
management; group productivity enhancement;
and fine-tuning of the organizational design
to build stability and resilience into
the structure. As part of the support for
the implementation of the Plan's
recommendations, ICF International adapted
the Balanced Scorecard as implemented elsewhere
within DOE. Through workshops with staff,
ICF helped FE-3 refine its mission, establish
a balanced set of performance measures,
and reformulate its staff job descriptions
to link them to the mission. ICF International
then worked with staff to develop new performance
elements and incorporate them into the
Balanced Scorecard for use in future performance
appraisals.

Culture
and Work Processes
Information Management Assessment
U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
ICF International assessed NOAA's information
needs as it moved toward standardizing
its information infrastructure and improving
information sharing among its headquarters
and regional staff. Much of the organization's
work was being done in individual "stovepipes"
located throughout the organization. Learning
accomplished in one region was rarely transferred
to other organizational components. Regional
offices purchased and used information
technology according to widely divergent
rules and processes. The review identified
five key areas for improvement, including
the establishment of cultural support structures—an
Information Management Review board, information
literacy training, and a rewards programs
for information sharing—required
to inculcate the desired behaviors within
the organization.
Training Needs Assessment, Competency
Modeling, and Development of a Strategic
Training Plan to Address New Business Processes
Office of Medicare Hearings and Appeals Transition (OMHAT), U.S. Department
of Health and Human Services (HHS)
In the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement,
and Modernization Act of 2003 (MMA), Congress
mandated that the Social Security Administration
transfer its responsibility for adjudicating
Medicare appeals to the Department of Health
and Human Services between July 1, 2005,
and October 1, 2005. The Office of Medicare
Hearings and Appeals Transition (OMHAT)
was established to oversee all aspects
of the transfer, including workload distribution,
cost projections, transition timetable,
regulations, case tracking, geographic
distribution, hiring, and training the
200-300 staff to support the transition.
ICF International assisted OMHAT with the
conduct of a training needs assessment
and the development of a comprehensive,
cost-effective training plan for this newly
formed office. Ultimately, the training
plan provided a framework for a program
that provides newly hired staff—ranging
from administrative law judges to lawyers,
paralegals, hearing clerks, and administrative
staff—with the requisite skills
and knowledge to produce quality decisions.
Furthermore, the training plan ensured
that the newly formed office functioned
smoothly from the start and was poised
to meet unprecedented requirements, including
the processing of all Medicare appeals
within a 90-day timeframe.

Internal
Communication
Strategic Communication to Facilitate
Organizational Transformation
Legacy Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS), U.S. Department of
Homeland Security (DHS)
No federal agency had faced the sort of
massive transformation experienced at the
U.S. Department of Homeland Security in
2002. In bringing together 22 previously
separate agencies with distinct cultures,
policies, procedures, and technology systems,
DHS was faced with the daunting challenge
of creating one unified organization charged
with the responsibility of protecting the
nation in the wake of the September 11,
2001, attacks. With such a critical mission,
the usual turbulence associated with large-scale
transition needed to be minimized so as
not to jeopardize organizational performance.
To help DHS better understand and address
employee concerns throughout the restructuring
process, ICF International first conducted
a benchmarking study that recorded lessons
learned and best practices of other federal
agencies in transition. Simultaneously,
ICF International conducted extensive interviews
and focus group sessions at locations around
the country to investigate and address
employee concerns and disseminate information
to the field. The result was a strategic
communication plan that articulated strategies,
themes, and recommendations for moving
forward. Phase Two of the project involved
putting the strategic communication plan
in action. For example, ICF International
developed a Supervisor's Guide and
CD/DVD that offered tools, information,
and resources for addressing employee concerns
regarding the restructuring while keeping
employees focused on mission attainment.
Organizational Assessment to Evaluate
Strategic Communications and Implementation
of Recommended Program Improvements
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), U.S. Department
of Health and Human Services (HHS)
ICF International was asked to conduct an
in-depth assessment to evaluate communications
between managers and employees, recommend
improvements, develop and implement a plan
to improve organizational performance,
and implement the recommendations. ICF International reviewed employee satisfaction
data, developed interview protocols, conducted
focus groups and individual interviews,
analyzed the data, and produced a report
of findings and recommendations. ICF International's
recommendations became the foundation for
the agency's
new Leadership Development Program (LDP).
ICF International then designed and implemented
a comprehensive communications and outreach
strategy to generate awareness, buy-in,
and enthusiasm for SAMHSA's new LDP.
ICF International went on to implement specific
components of the communications plan,
including preparing presentations for meetings
with senior leaders and union representatives,
design of a logo and "brand" for
the new LDP, development of a brochure
describing program benefits, and design
and development of intranet content. In
addition, ICF International is currently designing
and delivering a variety of learning interventions,
including instructor-led courses and applied
learning seminars for managers and supervisors.
Internal Communications and Training Campaign
to Introduce New EDL and ATLAS Technology
U.S. Postal Service (USPS)
To track mail at the tray, tub, and sack
level, ICF International worked with the USPS
to develop a 24-digit, barcoded Enhanced
Distribution Label (EDL) as well as the
Web-based system (ATLAS) designed to produce
these new labels. Once USPS was ready to
launch the new technology, ICF International
was contracted by the USPS to develop and
implement a comprehensive training and
communications plan to deliver the necessary
competencies to relevant workers. ICF International
developed a variety of communication materials—from
a distinctive logo to posters, brochures,
pocket cards, and Web site content—as
well as a blended learning solution comprised
of train-the-trainer workshops delivered
to regional sites across the United States,
an on-line Help system integrated into
the ATLAS application, and interactive
Web-based training. The EDL/ATLAS program
was launched officially in late summer
2005. Employee response has been extremely
positive, and USPS expects to apply the
lessons learned from this technology launch
to future technology introductions. Learn
more about how ICF International serves the postal industry.
Communications Audit and Development of
Internal Communications Strategy
U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Office of Fossil Energy (FE)
A Headquarters organization within the
Department of Energy contracted with ICF International to develop recommendations for
improving its communications and enhancing
the organization's value to its field sites.
ICF International first conducted in-depth
interviews with all of the field sites
and selected HQ program offices to understand
information needs; satisfaction with the
products and services currently provided
by HQ staff; areas where collaboration
could enhance staff productivity; and any
barriers to strong communications. ICF International then conducted a communications
audit of existing communications channels
and mechanisms. ICF International analyzed
the data and prepared a set of recommendations
for the Office Director for a communications
program that would better meet the needs
of their customers.
Internal Communications for the Department
of Justice's Office of Justice Programs,
Office of the Chief Information Officer
U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO)
The Office of the Chief Information Officer
(OCIO) wanted to improve their communications
with their clients – Office of Justice
Programs (OJP) employees – and tasked
ICF International to determine the current
state of communications and how they could
be improved. As a first step, ICF International
administered a survey to develop a baseline
for the OCIO’s existing communications
with OJP. ICF reviewed and analyzed survey
results and presented its findings and
recommendations to the OCIO. ICF International
then developed a comprehensive internal
communications plan for the OCIO. The plan
included OCIO’s communications goals,
key messages, strategies, and tactics to
be used to encourage more effective communications.
ICF also created several communications
tools that were put into place immediately,
including a monthly e-newsletter, an E-Grants
fact sheet, and an E-Grants brochure. Other
elements of the internal communications
plan were successfully implemented as part
of a transition to new hardware, Microsoft
Outlook software, and computer-related
security policies within the OJP organization.

Managing
Organizational Change Initiatives
Change Management and Transition Management
Program
Legacy Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS), U.S. Department of Homeland
Security (DHS)
No federal agency has faced the massive
change being experienced at the Department
of Homeland Security (DHS). In bringing
together 22 previously separate agencies
with distinct cultures, policies, procedures,
and technology systems, DHS had to form
one unified organization charged with the
responsibility of protecting the nation
in the wake of the September 11, 2001,
attacks. Its critical mission required
that the usual turbulence associated with
large-scale transition needed to be minimized
so as not to jeopardize organizational
performance. ICF International was hired to
ensure that the Immigration and Naturalization
Service (INS) underwent this transition
as seamlessly as possible. Specifically,
INS's Workforce Effectiveness and Planning
Staff hired ICF International to provide change
management services and technical assistance
during the transition. This responsibility
included identifying and analyzing employee
concerns about restructuring and crafting
recommendations to address these concerns.
ICF International accompanied these recommendations
with suggested implementation strategies.
To evaluate INS's change management needs,
ICF International conducted extensive research
and compiled information in a multi-phased
project. ICF International used this research
to develop an action plan that outlines
a methodology benchmarked across other
federal agencies in transition. ICF International
then conducted extensive interviews and
focus group sessions at locations around
the country to get critical employee feedback
and to disseminate information to the field.
The result was an action plan that articulated
strategies, themes, and recommendations
for moving forward by addressing problems/challenges,
lessons learned, and best practices associated
with change management and restructuring.
National Security Personnel System (NSPS)
Implementation Support
U.S. Department of Defense (DoD), Washington Headquarters Services (WHS)
For the Program Executive Office (PEO),
ICF International supported the collection,
analysis, and documentation of the formal
public comments submitted on the proposed
enabling regulations for NSPS. Based on
this work, the PEO developed a final rule
and supporting administrative record that
made maximum use of public input and feedback.
Additionally, WHS contracted with ICF International
to conduct change management training for
the transition to NSPS. The training was
designed to provide WHS staff with an overview
of the new system and to impart the skills
necessary for operating in a pay-for-performance
environment. Lessons included setting expectations,
giving and receiving feedback, and assisting
employees through the change process.
Organizational Development and Change
Management Services
U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Chicago Operations Office
ICF International has managed the annual
strategic and business planning process
for DOE's Chicago Operations Office.
ICF International planned the management retreats
on critical strategic issues facing the
office, facilitated and wrote sections
of the business plan, and published the
plan for concurrence of the managers. ICF International provided invaluable assistance
in identifying the areas of strategic leverage
that differentiated the office from other
offices and operations at DOE. This helped
the office better focus its action plans
and initiatives on its strengths. Other
activities have included developing and
leading team-building workshops to improve
roles and relationships between two internal
offices and a DOE HQ office. ICF International
planned the sessions, interviewed attendees
and other stakeholders prior to the workshops,
developed the agendas and team-building
exercises, facilitated the workshops, and
reported on outcomes. The workshops resulted
in improved relationships between internal
departments and with headquarters clients,
and a sustained level of project work for
the Office.
Evaluation of the Black Lung Program
U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), Center for Program Planning and Results (CPPR)
ICF International is currently conducting
a program evaluation of the DOL Black Lung
Program, administered by the Division of
Coal Mine Workers' Compensation (DCMWC),
which provides important financial and
medical benefits to former coal miners
who have been disabled by pneumoconiosis— black
lung disease, a devastating illness caused
by prolonged inhalation of coal mine dust.
The purpose of the evaluation is to identify
performance measures for the Black Lung
program, assess the program's efficiency
and effectiveness against those measures,
and identify areas for improvement. ICF International's efforts will help improve
services provided by the Black Lung program
to coal miners and other program beneficiaries
(i.e., survivors and dependents), and will
help DOL improve its Office of Management
and Budget PART assessments.
Rocky Flats Labor Relations and Diversity
Organizational and Business Process Assessment
U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Kaiser-Hill, LLC Rocky Flats Environmental
Technology Site (RFETS)
ICF International was contracted to conduct
a review of the HR/LR/D functions of the
Rocky Flats Environmental Technology Site
(RFETS), a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)
site currently under the management of
DOE contractor Kaiser-Hill, Inc. (K-H).
Based on the outcome of that review, ICF International was asked to make specific recommendations
to improve RFETS performance in relation
to the challenges created by downsizing
and site closure. The goals for the improvement
initiative were to: (1) define the current
situation of the three key functions, (2)
articulate the challenges facing these
functions as the site moved closer to closure,
(3) identify potential synergies for the
three functions, and (4) identify areas
of potential leverage for the three functions,
particularly focusing on streamlining personnel
resources, directly supporting closure
activities, and managing staff morale throughout
the closure period. Based on the
review and the data collected, ICF International
developed a comprehensive improvement plan
that has served as the basis for practical
and effective internal resource planning
and as a communication tool for the integration
of the HR/LR/D functions.
Outcome Measures for FEMA Public Assistance
Program
U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
ICF International is assisting FEMA in its
efforts to measure its performance and
results under its Public Assistance Program,
which provides financial assistance to
states and communities following disasters.
Building on its work supporting FEMA in
measuring the customer satisfaction of
state and local grant recipients, ICF International
is researching and developing a set of
options for outcome measures that the agency
can use to determine the impact of the
Public Assistance program. These measures
will be used to report on the agency's
performance, both within the Department
of Homeland Security and externally as
part of the Performance
Assessment Rating Tool (PART) process. Based on the
research and analysis, the team will submit
a report describing at least eight possible
program outcome measures, the advantages
and limitations of each measure, and the
data required to implement these measures.
Management Training on Performance Measurement
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Office of Native American
Programs (ONAP)
Interested in making improvements to its
performance measurement process and PART
score, ONAP staff asked ICF International
to train its management team in performance
measurement. After holding discussions
with program staff to determine needs
and assess learning objectives, ICF International
designed training materials, exercises,
and a three-day training course for program
staff. The training, structured in part
as a facilitated working group, covered
the performance measurement requirements
imposed on ONAP, with emphasis on PART
and the PART process. While in training,
ONAP managers reevaluated and rewrote ONAP's
performance measurements, explored data
requirements and availability, and identified
next steps to involve key stakeholders
in making changes to improve data collection,
analysis, and performance measurement process.
Improving Productivity and Performance
Measurement—Training and a Technical
Guide for State and Local Housing Programs
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
The Office of Community Planning and Development
at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban
Development set a goal of improving the
production of state
and local housing programs that use federal funds, and documenting
the outcomes in communities that receive
these funds. To assist HUD, ICF International
developed and is currently conducting two-day
training sessions for state and local agencies
on techniques for enhancing program productivity
and measuring program outcomes. ICF International
tailored the course to focus on methods,
tools, and examples that could be used
by these types of programs. The training
course incorporates extensive participation
and is accompanied by a Technical Guide
that presents additional tools and case
studies about how programs have used these
tools and methods. ICF International and HUD
involved OMB examiners in the review of
materials. The training and guidance materials
were recognized in successful PART review
as evidence of excellence in program management.
Performance Management Toolkit
U.S. Fire Administration (USFA)
ICF International developed a toolkit to
provide guidance to USFA in the continuing
design, implementation, and improvement
of integrated performance management.
The Performance Management Toolkit is a
structured approach to organization, program
or project planning, evaluation, and diagnosis.
In a continuous performance management
cycle, organizational resources are allocated
to ongoing program activities through
the planning process. The program activities
use these resources to produce results
that are then evaluated in light of the
program goals. Diagnosis looks for the
underlying reasons and the root causes
for the variances found during evaluation.
Then the findings are passed onto the
planning process so that resources and
expectations can be adjusted accordingly.
The results can be used to drive internal
management as well as provide metrics for
the PART.
Team-Building Workshop
Chief of Finance, U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Customer Account Services
Division
ICF International designed and delivered
a team-building session for the IRS Chief
of Finance in the Customer Account Services
division to assist in the integration of
10 additional employees into the organization.
This four-hour session was designed to
facilitate the integration of the new employees
(transferred from another business unit)
with an established group of 25 financial/budget
employees. To smooth the integration of
the two groups, ICF International developed
and delivered a team-building workshop
that allowed the groups to get to know
each other, learn fundamental concepts
of team development, identify similarities
and differences in work styles, and begin
the process of blending work cultures to
form a unified team. Participants were
exposed to concepts related to communication,
collaboration, team development, change
management, and merging workplace cultures.
Creativity and Team-Building Workshops
U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Compliance
ICF International designed and delivered
team-building sessions focusing on creativity
and innovation to two groups: IRS Compliance
Headquarters Analysts, and managers attending
the IRS Compliance Leadership Conference.
The session conducted for analysts was
four hours in length, delivered to an audience
of approximately 160 IRS employees. The
objective of the session was to provide
innovative, creative, "out-of-the-box"
approaches designed to motivate, promote,
and take headquarters analysts to another
level of greater productivity and efficiency
in the operation. To encourage creative
thinking within the group, ICF International
designed an interactive team-building workshop
that allowed the group to learn fundamental
concepts of the creative process, identify
barriers to creativity, and encourage collaboration
and cooperation as a unified team.
The second session, delivered at the IRS
Compliance Leadership Conference, involved
more than 100 managers whose experience
level spanned a wide range. Similar in
design to the analysts' workshop,
the managers' workshop was designed
to give participants strategic and creativity
tools for approaching the pressures and
challenges of the year ahead. Evaluation
results from both sessions indicated that
participants were thoroughly satisfied
with the workshops, the instructor, and
the knowledge and insights they gained
through their participation.
Customized Training and Program Support:
Team-Building and Collaboration as Part
of Leadership Development Program
U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)
ICF International is supporting SEC in the
design and development of a comprehensive
Leadership Development Curriculum and Program
for supervisors, managers, and executives
under the auspices of SEC
University. The
aim of this project is to develop a core
curriculum that will provide the foundation
and support necessary for SEC managers
to assume leadership positions of increasing
responsibility and authority throughout
the SEC. As part of this project, ICF International
has developed and delivered leadership
courses in Leading
Teams and Managing Leadership style
to Workgroup
Performance, as well
as seminars in Modeling
Collaboration and
Motivating Your Employees. SEC
and ICF Consultilng collaborated on a series
of facilitated sessions discussing virtual
work and virtual teams, since an SEC division
had just recently incorporated a virtual
workforce into its daily operations. SEC
wished to capture initial dialogue on the
virtual experience to help refine SEC's
policy. Topics covered included: how to
maintain team cohesion in the new work
environment; how to build successful communication
among all employees and not forget the
virtual worker; and how virtual teams can
establish systems that will build trust
among all members.
Transition Team-Building Plan
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Office of Native American
Programs (ONAP)
ICF International developed a Transition
Team-Building Plan to aid ONAP staff
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