MARATHON COUNTY GOVERNMENT EXPANDS CONVERSATION ON CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT

SITUATION
Marathon County government continues performance management activities and discussions. As part of an overall strategy of organizational development, administrators are seeking to improve program and communicate results using outcome measurement, and specifically the logic model approach. The Marathon County Finance Director faces requirements for evidence of performance management, maintaining the standards espoused by the Government Finance Officers Association. 

RESPONSE
Mary Kluz, Community Resource Development Agent, serves on the Marathon County Outcome Measurement workgroup. The workgroup coordinates education, reporting, the implementation timeline, and measuring the progress of the outcome measurement effort. In 2007, Kluz provided direction to the group as they designed a “Lunch and Listen” session to get feedback from staff, and she guided discussion at the session. When the workgroup expressed a desire to broaden the understanding beyond the initial departmental contacts, Kluz planned and delivered an introductory outcome measurement educational session (Outcome Talk), incorporating hands-on activities and vocabulary building exercises. Kluz also partnered with specialist Ellen Taylor-Powell to create and present an intermediate level seminar (Outcome Application) for experienced outcome contacts. 

RESULTS
The Marathon County outcome measurement group analyzed the input from the listening session to monitor implementation of the program and to reframe their work. The group gathered evidence of cultural changes such as an increase in communication across departments, more employee focus on what they are trying to accomplish together, and using data to learn about and improve their programs, as evidenced by the reports contained in the 2008 budget document (http://www.co.marathon.wi.us/is/mcf/pdf/final2008budgetbook.pdf: the first report is found on page B-10.) They took the results from the session to help Kluz plan 2007 education. As an outgrowth from the seminars, the deputy administrator has taken the lead to develop an interdepartmental logic model defining outcomes for emergency preparedness. 

Marathon County outcome measurement group members continue to grow in their application and confidence in using this approach. Two members presented at the Midwest Performance Management Conference held in October 2007 in Rochester, MN.

Mary Kluz, Community Resource Development Agent - 2007 Success Story

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