Technology and Its Use for Enhancing Teamwork and

CohesivenessPaul Oester

OSU Extension ServiceRegional Administrator Interviews

November 18

My Use of Technology in Program Delivery

Delivery Technology Tools• PowerPoint• Webinar• Adobe Presenter• Polycom• Electronic distribution of newsletters

Using Technology to Enhance Teamwork and Cohesiveness—what’s available

• Outlook—email, shared email (group mailbox), calendar scheduling and sharing

• Conference calls• Video conferencing and shared documents—Adobe

Connect-Pro, AT+T Connect, iLinc, Cloud meeting, OUS MeetMe (inoc.ous.edu/meetme),Google Docs

• Skype, ooVoo, voice over IP• Polycom –in each office but not at our desk• Cell phones, iphones, smartphones, etc

Using Technology to Enhance Teamwork and Cohesiveness—how to use it

• Video chats/conferencing • Audio or video chatting while working on a shared

document • Instant messaging• Social networking—modern day post-it board for

professionals• Shared schedules-everyone can keep current • Information management = collaboration

Using Technology to Enhance Teamwork and Cohesiveness—pro’s and con’s

• Need to know what you want to accomplish• Tech threat---face to face to establish relationship &

technology to strengthen and maintain• Not everyone comfortable, if clunky then at disadvantage• However, a plus if people already using it• No replacement for face to face in extension--issue

becomes how to communicate efficiently while coping with declining resources…

• Polycom/video conferencing for staff, one-on-one or budget meetings, updates- regional or county based efforts where it makes sense, each county may have a different approach

• Using video conferencing with shared document for reviewing and revising dossier, publications, etc

• Email for updates & cell phones/iphones/smartphones for personal contacts and accessing email efficiently

• Idea--develop a link on Extension’s web site specific to region

Scott D. & Bolen, K. 2008. Innosight Inc.

Using Technology to Enhance Teamwork and Cohesiveness—examples…

When Technology is not Appropriate for Administrative Functions

• Some aspects of personnel management

• Faculty evaluations might or might not be a good fit

• Anytime a personal presence will benefit the conversation and create a more positive outcome

• More complicated meetings or conferences

Transformation• The beginning of a new era

• Made a decision to change and start something different

• Internal process, if not part of the solution, you are part of the problem

• Despite challenges, including some internal and external resistance, need to move forward and become better than we were

Key Administration Roles Defined by OSU Extension…

• Organizational leadership-articulate and lead vision, direction and priorities. Implement strategic plan.

• Connective leadership- link OSU expertise and experience, identify critical issues

• Stakeholder relationships- develop, maintain and communicate with county, state, federal, university decision makers

• Personnel management- recruit, orient, train diverse faculty and staff

• Financial management- develop and manage budgets• Organization development and support- leadership for strategic

planning

Leadership…• Meet people, collect information, form a plan for a

positive future. Embrace unique characteristics and needs of each county

• Start small and find what works and what needs to be changed-don’t expect immediate success

• Establish clear expectations…

• Identify, value and nurture the good connections we have in each county

Regional Administrator Role...• Stay true to what we do well, delivering science based

educational programs and solving local problems. Reward innovation and risk taking.

• Earn your trust and respect• Represent and be an advocate for staff, the region and

the counties. • Listen and learn, form opinions slowly, quality trumps

speed• Work to overcome mindsets that are resistant to

transformation

My Role as an Advocate and Resource for Employees

• Know and clearly communicate county priorities and staff needs/wants

• Help to grow new funding strategies and sources

• Find ways to improve administrative efficiency

• Help staff be successful--be a mentor, reduce barriers, obtain resources, support staff development

My Role as an Advocate and Resource for Employees

• Coach through conflicts, strive to make each office an enjoyable place to work

• Learn how to become a better resource for local needs

• Be transparent in decisions, be accessible, empower others, create shared goals

Vision for Building and Fostering Teamwork

• Foster open communications, exhibit and expect trust and respect in interactions, create activities that improve working relationships

• Look for ways to support traditional connections and build new partnerships

• Build bridges. Find reasons/incentives for people to work together—incentives can vary

Example of Pulling Together Constituents/Coworkers

• Union County 4-H and Extension Service District

• Local county budgets were declining and a decision was made to try to stabilize extension funding

• Worked with campus, local extension advisory council, county commissioners, volunteers and staff

• As staff chair, provided leadership---developing budget, petition signing efforts, communicating to multiple stakeholders, legal hurdles and the public voting campaign.

How my background and experience has prepared me to be effective in an environment that values diversity…

• I live and work in northeast Oregon where cultural diversity is low, however….

• Worked with and led a diversity of teams• Work with diverse clientele, audiences and organizations • Collaborated with peers in foreign countries• Studied Spanish in college and locally• Created a tree planting video that has a Spanish language version

• Result…fact is we live in a diverse world, embracing differences and learning from others is key to building a better place