Learn about specific NYU Wagner Executive Briefing Series event dates and topics.
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Next Event: Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Using Analytics to Achieve Higher Performance
Forward-thinking government agencies are using analytical approaches and tools to drive smarter decisions about service delivery and operations, improving effectiveness and lowering costs. Our panel includes representatives from city agencies that are doing pioneering work in the area of analytics, with varying approaches. Please join us to learn about the utility and challenges of using analytics in government.
Panel:
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John J. Doherty, Commissioner, Department of Sanitation
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Michael Farrell, Deputy Commissioner, New York City Police Department
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David Frankel, Commissioner, Department of Finance
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Maryanne Schretzman, Executive Director, Center for Innovation through Data Intelligence
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Moderator:
Rogan Kersh, Associate Dean, NYU Wagner
Introduction by John Feinblatt, Chief Advisor to the Mayor for Policy and Strategic Planning and Criminal Justice Coordinator
7:45 - 9:45 a.m.
The Woolworth Building
15 Barclay Street, 4th Floor, Room 430
RSVP: Wagner Dialogue
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Past Events:
2011: SEP | JUN | MAR | JAN
2010: SEP | JUN | MAY | JAN
2009: OCT | JUN | MAR
2008: DEC | SEP | MAY | FEB
2007: DEC | SEP | JUN | MAR
2006: DEC | OCT | JUN | MAR
2005: DEC | OCT | MAY | MAR
2004: DEC | SEP |JUN | APR
September 27, 2011
Working Together Strategically and Analytically to Improve Performance
Recurring themes of the Leading Large Scale Change Executive Briefing series have been driving innovation in City government, improving performance and doing more with less. During past Briefings, we learned that a number of agencies are utilizing methods of performance improvement developed in the private sector, like Lean Six Sigma. Through the Lean Six Sigma approach, facilitated groups analyze problems with performance and opportunities for improvement.
The next Briefing will focus on agencies in which teams of managers have been and are currently working in strategic ways to explore causes of weak performance and to develop and test solutions. Our panel includes representatives from agencies that range from having extended experience with this approach to those that are now beginning to employ solutions. Additionally, the panel includes a representative from the Mayor’s Office to offer an overview of City agency performance.
We welcome your suggestions of processes in your field of work that would benefit from the use of a strategic group problem solving project. Please submit your suggestion with your response to the invitation, or anytime before Tuesday, September 27.
We will follow up this Briefing with a set of workshops designed to offer more in depth explorations of this innovative approach to improving performance.
Panel:
- Douglas Apple, First Deputy Commissioner, Department of Housing Preservation and Development
- Alan Aviles, President, Health and Hospitals Corporation
- Richard Barth, Executive Director, Department of City Planning
- Adrian Benepe, Commissioner, Department of Parks and Recreation
- Elizabeth Weinstein, Director, Mayor’s Office of Operations
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June 16, 2011
Managing Shared Services in New York City Government: The Quest Goes On
One year ago the Executive Briefing focused on the search for operational efficiencies in New York City government. As the fiscal crisis has continued to put pressure on New York agencies, we are revisiting the conversation to hear how city officials are finding ways to operate more efficiently. Examples include consolidation of technologies, integration of human resources and modernization of data infrastructure. In addition to specific agency initiatives, participants will discuss opportunities for improved service delivery across agencies.
The panel included:
- Robert Doar, Commissioner, NYC Human Resources Administration
- Linda Gibbs, Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services
- Edna Wells Handy, Commissioner, NYC Department of Citywide Administrative Services
- Carole Post, Commissioner, NYC Department of Information Technology and Telecommunications
- Isidore Sobkowski, CIO and Executive Director, NYC Health and Human Services
Moderator: Peter Madonia, Chief Operating Officer, The Rockefeller Foundation
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March 30, 2011
Juvenile Justice and Child Welfare
New York City is in the process of modernizing its approach to juvenile justice. The integration of Children's Services with Juvenile Justice aims to improve long-term outcomes for children and teens involved with the criminal justice system. Please join us for an NYU Wagner/Accenture Executive Briefing Series breakfast to explore the management challenges in bringing together these two agencies.
The panel included:
- John Feinblatt, Chief Advisor to the Mayor for Policy and Strategic Planning and Criminal Justice Coordinator for the Mayor
- John Mattingly, Administration for Children's Services Commissioner
- Vincent N. Schiraldi, Department of Probation Commissioner
- Dora B. Schriro, Department of Corrections Commissioner
Moderator: Jeremy Travis, President, John Jay College of Criminal Justice
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January 19, 2011
Making Changes That Last
Second only to the challenges of reforming pubic organizations are those of sustaining performance gains over time. For a variety of reasons, institutionalizing reforms has a checkered history in American public administration. In the past decade particularly, the city has undertaken transformative change initiatives, including a commitment to reduce poverty; to improve school performance; to achieve a greener and more sustainable city; to protect the city against terrorist attacks; and to keep crime down in a post-9/11 world that is in economic distress. How are city leaders addressing the challenge of making these changes last?
The panel included:
- Linda Gibbs, deputy mayor for Health and Human Services
- Adrian Benepe, Department of Parks and Recreation commissioner
- Raymond Kelly, Police Department commissioner
- Shael Polakow-Suransky, Department of Education senior deputy chancellor and chief academic officer
- Veronica White, Center for Economic Opportunity executive director
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September 22, 2010
Creating and Managing Innovation in Service Performance at All Levels of City Government
The City of New York needs the “continual innovation” called for in Deputy Mayor Goldsmith’s book, The Power of Social Innovation. The book gives prominent attention to the work of Deputy Mayor Linda Gibbs, but many other New York City agency leaders and managers are creating, implementing and assessing the performance of innovations in their own areas of service.
This executive briefing will explore and analyze a number of these innovations, including a juvenile robbery intervention program at NYPD; a Web-based management system at DYCD that improves the quality of after school programs and provides savings for the city; the adaptation of a lean process improvement methodology at HHC; and the use of technology to improve efficiency in DHS inspections.
The panel will include:
- Linda Gibbs, deputy mayor for Health and Human Services
- Stephen Goldsmith, deputy mayor for Operations
- Alan Aviles, president, Health and Hospitals Corp.
- Meryl Weinberg, executive director, Metropolitan Hospital Center
- Seth Diamond, commissioner, Department of Homeless Services
- Joanne Jaffe, chief, Housing Bureau, NYPD
- Jeanne B. Mullgrav, commissioner, and Chris Caruso, assistant commissioner for Out of School Time programs,
- Department of Youth and Community Development
Moderator:
Dr. Paul C. Light, NYU Wagner's Paulette Goddard Professor of Public Service and founding principal investigator of the Organizational Performance Initiative.
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June 15, 2010
Operational Efficiency in New York City Government
The fiscal crisis has put enormous pressure on New York agencies and authorities to find ways to operate more efficiently. As Mayor Bloomberg announced in his State of the City Wagner address, centralizing and consolidating operations, among other strategies, are vital to preventing cutbacks to the city's core services.
Examples include consolidation of office space, streamlining human resources and modernizing data infrastructure. The Metropolitan Transit Authority is similarly examining and redefining how it operates. In addition to specific agency initiatives, participants will discuss the results of an interagency task force on operational efficiency deployed by Mayor Bloomberg, and the ways these challenges cut across agencies.
The panel will include:
Moderator: Professor Anthony Shorris, director of the Rudin Center for Transportation Policy and Management at the Robert F. Wagner School of Public Service and former executive director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, deputy chancellor of the city’s Board of Education, and commissioner, NYC Department of Finance
Cas Holloway, commissioner, NYC Department of Environmental Protection
Jeffrey A. Kay, director, Mayor’s Office of Operations
Charles Monheim, chief operating officer, Metropolitan Transportation Authority
Carole Post, commissioner, NYC Department of Information Technology and Telecommunications
June 15, 7:45-9:45 a.m.
The Puck Building’s Rudin Family Forum
295 Lafayette Street
2nd Floor
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May 6, 2010
Transforming the City’s Delivery of Affordable Housing
The economic crisis has put even greater pressure on New York City to increase the amount of affordable housing available to low- and moderate-income residents. As leaders are being tasked to be more creative and innovative than ever, they are evaluating the past, looking at new programmatic ideas and, most importantly, establishing new cross-sector and cross-agency partnerships to expand the capacity and potential for affordable housing solutions.
Please join us for a Wagner/Accenture Executive Series breakfast to discuss the innovative strategies that have helped the New York City housing market remain strong through the crisis and those new ideas that will continue to propel New York's ambitious housing goals into the future.
The panel will include:
Moderator: Ingrid Gould Ellen, professor of Urban Planning and Public Policy at New York University’s Wagner Graduate School of Public Service and co-director of the Furman Center for Real Estate and Urban Policy
Rafael E. Cestero, commissioner of the NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development
Seth Diamond, professor of Public Policy and Urban Planning at New York University’s Wagner Graduate School of Public Service and faculty co-director of the Furman Center for Real Estate and Urban Policy
Marc Jahr, president of the NYC Housing Development Corp.
John B. Rhea, chairman of the NYC Housing Authority
Adam Weinstein, president and CEO of the Phipps Houses Group and chairman of the Phipps Community Development Corp.
May 6, 7:45-9:45 a.m.
The Woolworth Building
15 Barclay Street,
4th Floor, Room 430
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January 27, 2010
Leading Large-Scale Change Executive Briefing
The Next Wave in Health Care: Using Health Information Technology for Improving Front-Line Programs
This discussion will explore how New York agencies and institutions are influencing the front lines of health care reform and how city agency clients can benefit from these efforts. The significant recovery funding being directed toward sharing of client health care information has the potential to dramatically change how the government serves clients, creates jobs, and provides a range of services including housing, mental health and substance abuse. Panelists will discuss how city agencies can use this information to create a more connected community.
The panel will include:
Deputy Commissioner Rachel Block, Office of Health Information Technology Transformation, NYS Department of Health
Commissioner Robert Doar, NYC Human Resources Administration
Commissioner Thomas Farley, NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
Commissioner Robert Walsh, NYC Department of Small Business Services
Moderator:
Williams S. Bernstein, chair, Healthcare Division, Manatt, Phelps & Phillips
January 27, 7:45-9:45 a.m.
The Woolworth Building
15 Barclay Street, 4th Floor, Room 430
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October 13, 2009
Leading Large-Scale Change Executive Briefing
Finding New Solutions: Using and Managing Technology to Improve Local Government Services
In his 2009 State of the City addrress, Mayor Bloomberg called for innovative thinking that embraces new solutions to old problems. Illustrative of this effort, New York City’s Health and Human Services agencies, the Police and Building Departments are using technology as a tool to achieve increased communication, integration and integrity, as well as improved service delivery.
This briefing will focus on the ways innovative systems at the Buildings Department, HHS-Connect and NYPD’s Real Time Crime Center are using and managing technology to achieve their respective missions.
The panel includes:
Commissioner Paul Cosgrave, Department of Information Technology and Telecommunications
Kamal Bherwani, chief information officer of Health and Human Services and executive director of HHS-Connect
Inspector Ken Mekeel, commanding officer NYPD RTCC
Deputy Commissioner Marilyn King-Festa, Department of Buildings
Moderator:
Marilyn McMillan, vice president for IT and chief information technology officer New York University
October 13, 7:45-9:45 a.m.
The Woolworth Building
15 Barclay Street, 4th Floor, Room 430
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June 10, 2009
Leading Large-Scale Change Executive Briefing Series
Mayoral Control of the Schools through Performance Measurement and Management
This briefing will explore the experience of using performance management in the New York City public schools toward better outcomes and increased performance. The discussion will include a number of city government experts who will join Chancellor Klein in the exploration of the rewards and challenges of performance measurement and management.
The panel includes:
Joel I. Klein, chancellor, Department of Education
Martin F. Horn, commissioner, Departments of Correction and Probation
Jonathan Mintz, commissioner, Department of Consumer Affairs
Moderator:
Peter Madonia, chief operating officer, Rockefeller Foundation
June 10,12:15-1:45 p.m.
NYU Wagner School of Public Service
295 Lafayette Street, 2nd Floor
Rudin Family Forum
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March 3, 2009
Leading Large-Scale Change Executive Briefing
Weathering the Perfect Storm: Strengthening City Government/Nonprofit Relationships
This briefing will focus on the city's work with its nonprofit partners and vendors in this nearly perfect storm of financial downturn. In these times of increased demand, retrenchment by government at all levels and by donors, it is critical that the city and nonprofit organizations work together to meet the complex needs of New Yorkers. This environment will necessitate an increased reliance on effective collaboration and performance based contracting.
The panel includes experts from a mix of human, cultural and central agencies, cutting across key areas of city contracting with nonprofits.
With opening remarks by Deputy Mayor Linda Gibbs, the panel includes:
Lilliam Barrios-Paoli, commissioner, Department for the Aging
Robert Doar, commissioner, Human Resources Administration
Kate Levin, commissioner, Department of Cultural Affairs
Marla Simpson, director, Mayor's Office of Contract Services
Moderator:
Florence Davis, cirector and president, Starr Foundation
March 3, 7:45-9:45 a.m
The Woolworth Building
15 Barclay Street, 4th Floor, Room 430
RSVP
These seminars are in high demand and have limited seating, so please RSVP.
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December 10, 2008
Public-Private Partnerships: Drawing Lessons from Fiscal Crises and Looking Forward
Public-private partnerships were a critical element in the recovery of New York City during the fiscal crisis of the 1970s. While times have changed, many of the complex management challenges that existed then are similar to ones that we face today.
The blending of the public, private and nonprofit sectors has been touted as a necessary ingredient for government efficacy and innovation. Veterans of fiscal crises and expert navigators of public-private partnerships will discuss how we move forward during a period of immense fiscal uncertainty.
The panel will include:
Dall W. Forsythe, professor, Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service, NYU, former budget director for the State of New York and the New York City Board of Education
Charlotte Hitchcock, chief of staff and director of financial regulation, Office of the Governor, and chair, New York State Asset Maximization Commission
Carol Kellerman, president, Citizens Budget Commission
Mark Page, director, Mayor’s Office of Management and Budget
Steven M. Polan, partner, Manatt, Phelps & Phillips LLP, member of Governor Paterson’s Commission on MTA Financing and former commissioner, Department of Sanitation
Moderator:
Paul C. Light, Paulette Goddard Professor of Public Service, Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service, NYU
Wednesday, December 10, 2008, 7:45-9:45 a.m.
The Woolworth Building
15 Barclay Street, 4th Floor, Room 430
RSVP
These seminars are in high demand and have limited seating, so please RSVP soon.
For further information about the series please visit our website at: www.wagnerbriefing.com.
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September 17, 2008
Leading Large-Scale Change Executive Briefing
The Challenge of Large-Scale Development: Managing City/State Mega-Projects
Perhaps not since the time of the “master builder” Robert Moses has the city aspired to and undertaken so many grand plans to shape the built environment of New York City. While the scale of change may be similar to that past era the challenges facing those who lead and manage the complex (Mega) projects, for examples, World Trade Center, Hudson Yards, Howland Hook/New York Container Terminal, are different and greater in many ways. To review the City’s experience in meeting these challenges we will convene several of the key City, State and Multi-State actors in this urban drama to share the lessons they have learned.
The panel will include:
Timothy J. Gilchrist, deputy secretary for Economic Development and Infrastructure, New York State Office of the Governor
Robert Lieber, deputy mayor for Economic Development, Office of the Mayor
Christopher O. Ward, executive director, Port Authority of New York and New Jersey
Moderator:
Robert D. Yaro, president, Regional Plan Association
September 17, 7:45-9:45 a.m.
The Woolworth Building
15 Barclay Street, 4th Floor, Room 430
RSVP
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May 22, 2008
Leading Large-Scale Change Executive Briefing
Doing More with Less: How to Navigate Cutback Management
Finding the resources necessary to support large scale change in government is challenging enough in times of expanding budgets, but managing transformations in periods of budget retrenchment is even more complex. The question is how to do more with less money. Veterans of periods of cutback management in the past will discuss their experiences and give advice on how to maintain momentum.
The panel will include:
John H. Banks, vice president of Government Relations, Con Edison, former deputy director, City Council Finance Division
John J. Doherty, commissioner, Department of Sanitation
Michael P. Jacobson, director, Vera Institute of Justice, former Corrections commissioner and deputy budget director
Jeffrey A. Kay, director, Mayor’s Office of Operations
Alair Townsend, columnist, Crain’s New York Business, former budget director and deputy mayor for Finance and Economic Development
Moderator:
Professor Charles M. Brecher, Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service, NYU
May 22, 7:45-9:45 a.m
The Woolworth Building
15 Barclay Street, 4th Floor, Room 430
RSVP
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February 26, 2008
Leading Large-Scale Change Executive Briefing
Building What It Takes To Manage Large-Scale Change: Leadership Development in City Government
It is impossible to achieve large-scale change without the right leadership. This briefing will focus on leadership development in city government. It will look at various programs within New York City and how several agencies are addressing the challenge of leadership development.
Michael J. Farrell, deputy commissioner, Strategic Initiatives, New York Police Department
Martha K. Hirst, commissioner, Department of Citywide Administrative Services
Joel I. Klein, chancellor, Department of Education
Edward Skyler, deputy mayor for operations, Office of the Mayor
Robert W. Walsh, commissioner, Department of Small Business Services
Moderator:
Dr. Robert J. Thomas, executive director of Accenture's Institute for High Performance Business and author of several books on leadership development, including most recently The Talent Powered Organization.
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December 5, 2007
Leading Large-Scale Change Executive Briefing
The Challenge of City/State Collaboration: Implementing Universal Pre-Kindergarten
The broad topic is city/state collaboration—a vital component in the successful implementation of many city policies and programs. We’ve selected universal pre-kindergarten as an example. One of the few well established facts in education is that early childhood is critical to later learning. Mayor Bloomberg and Governor Spitzer have each made universal pre-kindergarten a high priority policy. Since the city is home to such a large portion of the pre-K population, state success depends on successful implementation of the program in the city.
Preschool children are the special concern of the city's education and human services agencies and provider nonprofit agencies. The city in turn depends on the state legislature, the State Education Department, community based agencies, and the support of the City Council to carry out its mission. The focus of our next Executive Briefing will be the management challenges faced in harnessing all these diverse forces to produce successful educational outcomes.
With opening remarks by Deputy Mayor Dennis Walcott, and Deputy Secretary for Education Manuel Rivera, and closing remarks by Deputy Mayor Linda Gibbs the panel included:
Evelyn Castro, executive director, Office of Early Childhood Education, Department of Education
Alan Gartner, chief of staff, Office of the Deputy Mayor for Education and Community Development
Melanie Hartzog, deputy commissioner, Child Care and HeadStart, Administration for Children’s Services
Jennifer Jones-Austin, family servicescoordinator, Office of the Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services
Kristin Proud, deputy director for state operations, New York State Executive Chamber
Moderator:
Assistant Professor Christine McWayne, Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development, New York University
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September 18, 2007
Greening the Big Apple: Implementing PlaNYC
Earlier this year, Mayor Michael Bloomberg unveiled PlaNYC, a comprehensive plan to improve New York City's environment by 2030. Transcending departmental and traditional sector boundaries, this large-scale change program aims to achieve a bold outcome for NYC—a sustainable future. One of many ambitious components, congestion pricing has already received a lot of attention and is on its way toward becoming a reality. Several of the city leaders central to creating and implementing the plan will join us to discuss the challenges they face in collaborating across organizational silos, prioritizing programs in a fluid environment and measuring success to green New York City.
With an introduction by Deputy Mayor Daniel Doctoroff, the panel included:
Adrian Benepe, commissioner, Department of Parks and Recreation
Emily Lloyd, commissioner, Department of Environmental Protection
Janette Sadik-Khan, commissioner, Department of Transportation
Rohit Aggarwala, director of long-term planning and sustainability, Office of the Mayor
Shaun Donovan, commissioner, Department of Housing Preservation and Development
Moderator:
Marcia Bystryn, League of Conservation Voters
Look for important post-event materials in Briefing Documents.
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June 6, 2007
Policing A Changed City—A conversation between NYPD Commissioner Raymond Kelly, CBS News 60 Minutes Correspondent Lesley Stahl and you.
The management challenges of policing a changed city include:
- Organizing police to play a leading role on the home front of the fight against terrorism.
- Controlling and reducing crime with declining resources when crime has already been reduced to historically low levels.
- Confronting new technology based crime while also using new technologies in fighting crime and terrorism.
- Adapting policing to the always changing demography of the city, and the corresponding issues of police community relations.
Participants in previous briefings identified Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly as the speaker they would most like to hear.
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March 7, 2007
Leveraging Technology for Advanced Service Delivery Results
From NYC 311 to ACCESS NYC and NYCAPS, customer-focused service delivery models enabled by innovative enterprise technologies are transforming how government agencies connect with citizens, businesses—and with each other. Agencies across the city are moving from siloed systems to integrated technology solutions that are breaking down traditional organizational barriers.
The result? Better citizen access to government, cross-agency collaboration and coordinated service delivery, greater accountability for outcomes, and measurable cost and process efficiencies. Our March 7 Executive Briefing will explore the next wave of enterprise technology and the opportunities and challenges involved in making the transition to using enterprise capabilities for enhanced citizen service, satisfaction and high performance.
With an introduction by Deputy Mayor Daniel Doctoroff and closing remarks by Commissioner Paul Cosgrave, Department of Information Technology and Telecommunications.
Panel:
Robert Doar, commissioner Human Resources Administration
Martin Horn, commissioner, Department of Correction
Patricia Lancaster, commissioner, Department of Buildings
Martha Stark, commissioner, Department of Finance
Moderator:
Dall Forsythe, professor, Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service/NYU, and former New York State budget director.
Look for important post-event materials in Briefing Documents.
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December 12, 2006
Managing Poverty Reduction in NYC: Using Multi-Agency Measures to Track and Manage Poverty Reduction Initiatives
This past summer the Mayor’s Commission on Economic Opportunity (CEO) report emphasized that any effort to successfully tackle poverty must include a comprehensive management strategy that uses multi-agency measures to track and manage poverty. It is evident that it is not possible for one agency alone to tackle poverty, but rather it is the responsibility of a wide range of agencies requiring the leadership of a wide range of city agencies, some obvious and some not so obvious.
This next briefing will explore the strategies for and challenges of coordinating a management approach for measuring, monitoring and managing the city’s anti-poverty agenda.
The panel opened with remarks by Mayor Michael Bloomberg, and closed with remarks by Linda Gibbs, deputy mayor, Health and Human Services.
Moderator:
Lawrence Aber, professor New York University, and co-chair, Data and Evaluation Sub-Group, Commission on Economic Opportunity.
Discussants:
Thomas Frieden, commissioner, Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
Jonathan Mintz, commissioner, Department of Consumer Affairs
Jeanne B. Mullgrav, commissioner, Department of Youth and Community Development
Martha E. Stark, commissioner, Department of Finance
Robert W. Walsh, commissioner, Department of Small Business Services
Look for important post-event materials in Briefing Documents.
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October 24, 2006
Weathering the Storm: Planning for and Managing a Crisis in NYC
Hurricane Katrina reminded this country of the destructive potential and unpredictability of nature. It caused government agencies across the map to reassess their ability to react to natural disasters. Without advance notice of when and where a disaster may strike, however, this is a daunting task. Effective planning is the foundation of success in any large-scale operation, but it poses unique challenges when the timing, scope and even likelihood of an event are uncertain.
Using the sheltering strategy of the City of New York’s Coastal Storm Plan as an example, this session focused on how to plan for the unexpected, while balancing competing resources and bottom lines across multiple agencies.
Moderator:
Peter Madonia, former chief of staff to Mayor Michael Bloomberg, and current chief operating officer of the Rockefeller Foundation.
Discussants:
Joseph Bruno, commissioner, Department of Emergency Management
Edward Skyler, deputy mayor for administration, Office of the Mayor
Kathleen Grimm, deputy chancellor for finance and administration, Department of Education
Robert Hess, commissioner, Department of Homeless Services
Theresa Bischoff, CEO of the American Red Cross in Greater New York
Look for important post-event materials in Briefing Documents .
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June 22, 2006
Solving the Talent Challenge: Brain Drain or Magnet for Excellence?
Over the next five to 10 years, it is estimated that as many as 60 percent of government workers will be retiring from the workforce. This will result in a major exodus of talent and experience, complicating the on-going challenge of government competing with other sectors, both private and nonprofit, to recruit and retain talent. \
Further complicating this long-term challenge is concern about a possible second term impact on staff commitment. An additional challenge in sustaining a workforce is assuring that staff skills keep up with the changing nature of jobs, as technology and other factors influence job design.
These issues require both short-term responses and long-term strategies. This briefing looked at specific approaches to grappling with this looming predicament by taking a close look at successful tactics and programs, with an eye towards the future and further opportunities.
Moderator:
Barbara Gunn, senior vice president for operations and government relations at the American Museum of Natural History, and former director of operations for the Mayor’s Office, and first deputy commissioner, Department of Transportation, and Deputy Commissioner, Department of Parks and Recreation.
Discussants:
Dr. Elizabeth Arons, chief executive of the Division of Human Resources, New York City Department of Education
Peter Cannito, president, MTA Metro-North Rail Road
Peter Goldmark, program director, climate and air, Environmental Defense Fund, and former executive director of the Port Authority, New York State Budget director, and New York City assistant budget director
Ann Williams-Isom, deputy commissioner and special counsel to the commissioner, New York City Administration for Children’s Services
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March 28, 2006
Working Together: A Close-in Look at Inter-Agency Collaboration
Large scale change initiatives often require effective inter-agency collaboration. The next Leading Large-Scale Change Executive Briefing session will focus on the major leadership challenges of inter-agency collaboration. We look in depth at two case studies of inter-agency collaboration: the homeless housing working group and the solid waste management program working group. Both are composed of a wide range of agencies, all of which have come together in intense collaboration with an approach and focus on holistic problem solving.
Moderator:
Gordon Campbell, CEO, Safe Horizon, former commissioner, Department of Homeless Services, and dhief of staff to the First Deputy Mayor
Discussants:
John Doherty, commissioner, Department of Sanitation
Kate Ascher, executive vice president, Economic Development Corporation
Susan Kath, Environmental Law, Chief, Law Department
Haeda Mihaltses, director, Mayor’s Office of Intergovernmental Affairs
Maryanne Schretzman, deputy commissioner for policy and planning, Department of Homeless Services
Peter Cantillo, assistant deputy general manager of operations for support services, N.Y.C. Housing Authority
Harold Shultz, special counsel, Department of Housing Preservation and Development
Patricia M. Smith, first deputy commissioner, Human Resources Administration
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December 6, 2005
Second Terms: Leveraging Victory
Second terms offer great opportunities and unique challenges. A second term is a renewed mandate with institutional knowledge already secured. Steep learning curves of a first term, especially for those new to city government, are no longer a barrier. Established relationships with internal contacts and external stakeholders serve as a strong base on which to solidify projects. And with acquired and earned credibility, an administration has the leeway to move on to even more challenging and ambitious initiatives.
Moderator:
Linda Gibbs, commissioner of the Department of Homeless Services
Discussants:
Stanley Brezenoff, CEO and president, Continuum Health Partners Inc., first deputy mayor in the Koch administration, former president of the New York City Health and Hospitals Corp., and former administrator of the New York City Human Resources Administration
Michele Cahill, senior counselor to the chancellor for education policy, New York City Department of Education
Shaun Donovan, commissioner, New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development
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October 19, 2005
Leading Without a Mandate: Strategies for Building Momentum
How can large-scale change occur when no single organization owns the proposed solution and when the interested institutions are in the public, nonprofit and corporate sectors? How does one mobilize interested parties and build momentum for change? What are the strategies for "jump-starting" large-scale change when responsibility and accountability is diffused across multiple levels of government and the private and nonprofit sectors?
Discussants:
Farzad Mostashari, assistant commissioner, Bureau of Epidemiology Services and chair of the Primary Care Information Task Force, New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
Dennis Whalen, executive deputy commissioner, New York State Department of Health
Pamela S. Brier, president and chief executive officer of Maimonides Medical Center
Rachel Block, project director, Quality Strategies Initiative, United Hospital Fund
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May 18, 2005
Managing in a Fishbowl: The Press as Stakeholder
The press is an unpredictable stakeholder. How should public officials leading large-scale change include the press in their strategy for stakeholder management? Is it possible to develop a strategy that leads to positive media interest? And how can such a strategy help you react to unexpected coverage—either when the press breaks news of your initiative before you're ready or covers other agency news that diverts attention from your goal. How does knowing that any initiative may be exposed to public scrutiny at any time affect how you manage large scale change?
Moderator:
Colleen Roche, principal, managing director at Linden Alschuler & Kaplan Inc
Discussants:
James Anderson, associate commissioner, Deptartment of Homeless Services
Douglas Apple, general manager, New York City Housing Authority
Joseph Calderone, director of communications, John Jay College of Criminal Justice office of public relations
Sandra Mullin, associate commissioner, Deptartment of Health and Mental Hygiene
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March 31, 2005
Defining Success: Peril or Power
Leaders often consider the role of outcomes primarily as an evaluative tool for understanding organizational impact. Measured outcomes can be forceful agents for change, clarifying organizational mission and garnering stakeholder support. Lessons learned in the process can affect both enterprise-wide and individual level initiatives.
On the other hand, defining outcomes aligned with agency goals is a difficult task. Public organizations often are charged to produce results using imperfect technologies in complex and dynamic environments, where success is far from guaranteed.
Moderator:
Diana Fortuna, president, Citizens Budget Commission
Discussants:
Alan Aviles, acting president, Health and Hospitals Corporation
Shaun Donovan, commissioner, Housing Preservation and Development
Nicholas Scoppetta, commissioner, Fire Department
Iris Weinshall, commissioner, Department of Transportation
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December 9, 2004
Capstone Briefing: A Case Study—Prisoner Reentry in New York City
The final executive briefing of 2004 examined efforts to facilitate effective prisoner reentry. Several of the key stakeholders involved—from senior city officials to prison wardens, to nonprofit executives discussed, in the context of this case, the key principles and ideas explored throughout the series, including:
- Strategic challenges in defining the scope and pace of change.
- Approaches to managing cross agency collaboration.
- Internal and external stakeholder roles in leveraging buy-in and building innovation.
- Crisis as a catalyst to innovation.
- Challenges to sustaining innovation and maintaining accountability.
- Organizational culture and processes as vehicles for reinforcing innovation.
Moderator:
Arthur Miller, Harvard Law School professor
Discussants:
Linda Gibbs, commissioner, Department of Homeless Services
Martin Horn, commissioner of Correction
John Feinblatt, criminal justice coordinator, Office of the Mayor
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September 22, 2004
Introducing Innovation: Sources of New Thinking
How can we best bring new thinking to old problems? How can we learn to reframe challenges so we see more possibilities? What are the advantages of relying on outside panels or task forces? What are the trade-offs that are implicit in these choices about where we turn for new ideas? These questions and others like them will be explored at this breakfast.
Moderator:
Diana Fortuna, president, Citizens Budget Commission
Discussants:
Joel I. Klein, chancellor, Department of Education
Katherine N. Lapp, executive cirector, Metropolitan Transportation Authority
Thomas R. Frieden MD, MPH, commissioner, Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
Gino P. Menchini, commissioner, Department of Information Technology and Telecommunications
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June 8, 2004
Managing Stakeholders and Allies: Balancing Collaboration and Autonomy While Maintaining the Pace of Change
Complex change initiatives require effective partnerships across multiple agencies, sometimes at different levels of government or across nonprofits and private sector organizations. Such partnerships can add complications while they increase the scope of what is possible. This breakfast explored successful strategies for enrolling agencies and other stakeholders in designing and managing new initiatives and for addressing resistance to collaboration. It also looked at the role that data and outcome management can play in facilitating collaborative efforts.
Moderator:
Carl Weisbrod, president, Alliance for Downtown New York, Inc.
Discussants:
Marc V. Shaw, deputy mayor for operations
Michael J. Farrell, deputy commissioner, New York Police Department
Christopher O. Ward, commissioner, Department of Environmental Protection
Look for important post-event materials in Briefing Documents.
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April 20, 2004
Defining the Pace of Change: How Much/How Fast?
Large-scale change initiatives are often spurred by public controversy over services that are perceived to be failing—concern over a dramatic increase in cases of resistant tuberculosis or long and cumbersome lines for drivers licenses, for example. They may also be driven by sweeping regulatory changes, such as the reform of the welfare system. Sometimes they are triggered by the capability of new technologies. In many of these cases the public definition of the problem may be either significantly ambitious or, in some instances, too narrowly defined.
A critical set of decisions that can set the stage for the success of a new large-scale change effort concern what the scope of the undertaking should be, and how rapidly it needs to be achieved. This breakfast explored the central tactical, strategic, and managerial questions that were considered in specific examples from public sector change efforts to shed light on this important question.
Moderator:
Deborah Wright, president and CEO, Carver Federal Savings Bank
Discussants:
Peter J. Madonia, chief of staff to the mayor
Linda Gibbs, commissioner, Department of Homeless Services
Patricia J. Lancaster, commissioner, Department of Buildings
Look for important post-event materials in Briefing Documents.
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