Communication -- Getting it Right

By Bob Vilcheck, Virginia CPM Program Manager
Bob.Vilcheck@dhrm.virginia.gov

As the Chairman of the Communications and Database Committee for the National CPM Consortium, I have found first hand, and once again, how important communications are within and between organizations. As important as communications are to the success of organizations, it is probably the single most difficult thing to get right. Our committee has been working to improve the look, feel, and accessibility of our National CPM Consortium website. Besides improving these features, we also want to improve the content and the quality of information communicated through the website. Finally, we hope to enhance the connectivity to the American Academy of Certified Public Managers® website, as well as the cooperation between the two organizations. Special thanks to Greg Hyland of the AACPM for his contributions to our committee.

Having set these priorities and goals, we move closer and closer to achieving them. It is a slow and tedious process, especially since our Consortium is a union of states, a city, counties and the federal government represented by a myriad of unique program managers. Because we all have assorted responsibilities in addition to our CPM programs, and the fact that we get together twice a year at best, the need for good, quality communication is all the more important. We all understand the benefit of "getting the word out" and doing it in such a way as to keep members well informed of upcoming functions, program delivery methods, technology breakthroughs, benefits of CPM programs, and the list goes on and on. In this modern technology age, with less and less face-to-face communication, how well (or poorly) we use the technological advances will impact the success of our organizations moving forward. It is a credit to the Academy and the Consortium that we are able to work jointly to bring both organizations together twice a year. It is clearly to the benefit of both the Academy and Consortium to continue to communicate with one another. Our websites provide us with a golden opportunity to maintain a solid relationship, while "spreading the word" about the benefits of becoming a CPM, and building a national network that moves to create a standard of excellence for public management.

In my time with the Consortium, it has been gratifying to see the level of cooperation among members sharing information and program materials, insights, suggestions, and lessons learned. Each year, as we add new member states, the broader network and new perspectives further advance the capabilities and value of the Consortium. Of course, as more CPM programs are created, more CPM graduates appear, and the Academy is also able to grow and improve. I have learned a great deal through my involvement with the Academy and the Consortium, and know that with improved communication, and greater access to information, we will steadily improve the level of public management throughout the country, and with the help of technology, achieve global outreach.

© Copyright 2008, American Association of Certified Public Managers®