Monthly Report #16

The team conducted all meetings and outreach virtually to ensure continuity of services to the client and its stakeholders. Additionally, the TCMST participated in trainings on the updated features of Adobe Connect and explored the platform as an option to be used for future retreats and trainings. The TCMST provided regular updates to the DDI Change Management (CM) Working Group Lead. The team supported DDI Operating Units (OUs) with OU Formation through the Nine-Step Team Building Process. The TCMST worked with the leadership of the Innovation, Technology, and Research Hub (ITR) to finalize the agenda and dates for the ITR retreat sessions, which are planned for March 2021. The team also met with the leadership of the Program Office (PO) and Inclusive Development Hub (ID) to discuss the agendas for a PO leadership retreat and ID Hub retreat, respectively. The TCMST's activities in February with DDI Hubs and Program Office are described in more detail below. The team met with the Deputy Assistant Administrator (DAA) on February 3, 2021, to discuss the summary of the interviews with the five team leads. Based on the information collected, it was agreed that it would be preferable to organize a PO leadership retreat ahead of an all-staff retreat. The DAA and Acting Director provided the TCMST with two objectives that would frame this retreat: defining the roles/responsibilities of each PO team and how they interact with each other, and mapping the current landscape of PO support to the centers and hubs. The TCMST designed a draft agenda for the ITR retreat using data gathered from the ITR staff survey sent at the end of January. The team coordinated with the DAA and Deputy Director for Research to finalize the agenda for the retreat and set dates for the retreat. ITR staff have been divided into three mixed groups that will meet in separate retreats before gathering into an ITR all-staff retreat. The expected timeline for the retreat includes individual team staff meetings, group meetings, and an all-staff retreat. The TCMST also met with the acting Director and Deputy Director of the ID Hub to discuss possible CM activities. The team plans to follow up with next steps and begin designing a draft agenda for the ID Hub retreat. The TCMST met with the Program Office of the Bureau for Policy, Planning, and Learning (PPL) to discuss the purpose and content for a PPL Pulse Check survey. The team submitted questions for the Pulse Check on February 7, 2021, and is awaiting final edits from PPL before transferring the information into a Google Form to be sent to PPL staff. Projected activities for March 2021 include planning and designing a retreat for the ID Hub, following up with GenDev leadership to discuss a GenDev retreat, finalizing the design and logistics for the ITR retreat, and facilitating the ITR retreat. The TCMST will also draft a post-retreat report using information collected from the retreat. Additionally, the team will design an agenda for the PO leadership retreat, facilitate the PO leadership retreat, and continue to design and update the Team Building Toolkit.