Monthly Report #29: Change Management Task Order

The TCMST continued work with its two buy-ins: the Innovation, Technology, and Research (ITR) Hub in the Bureau for Development, Democracy, and Innovation (DDI) and the Bureau for Resilience and Food Security (RFS). The TCMST met weekly with the ITR Acting Director, Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) Lead, MEL Program Officer of the Technology Division, and Program Officer to review and design interventions for Activity 2 of the Strategic Planning Process. The TCMST designed and facilitated two 1.5-hour leadership strategy workshops on April 6 and April 25, 2022, to define ITR Division-level and ITR-level strategic objectives and goals. Participants included the Division Leads and relevant POCs from each of ITR's three Divisions: Innovation, Technology, and Research. The April 6 workshop focused on Division-level objectives, in which participants identified the elements that should be in the final objectives of the three ITR Divisions. Following the workshop, the TCMST shared a worksheet that listed the draft Division objectives as well as a template to brainstorm elements that could be in the final ITR-level strategic objectives. The April 25 workshop focused on brainstorming elements of the ITR-level objectives, using the same format as the Division-level objectives. The workshop achieved consensus for ITR to have separate objectives for the external and internal contributions of their work. The TCMST also met weekly with the RFS Activity Manager, RFS Chief of Staff, Office of Administrative Management Services (AMS) Director, and former Acting AMS Director to discuss the progress of the RFS Future of Work Readiness Assessment and planned activities. The TCMST completed individual meetings with Directors (and Deputies, if applicable) from each RFS Office or Center to discuss staff concerns regarding the return to the office, as well as the type of support needed for staff, managers, and leaders. The team also completed separate facilitated discussions with staff from all of RFS' nine operating units (OUs) to learn what is working well, what could be improved, and what issues/best practices RFS should consider as it transitions to a hybrid work environment. The TCMST facilitated discussions with the following OUs: AMS, Communications, Center for Agriculture-led Growth, Center for Nutrition, Center for Resilience, Center for Water Security, Sanitation, and Hygiene, Office of Country Support, Office of Policy, Analysis, and Engagement, and Program Office. The team used the Google Jamboard format to collect input from participants, leaving the boards open for one week for staff to continue adding notes and to allow those who could not attend to add their thoughts as well. The TCMST began analyzing data to present key themes and preliminary findings for an RFS Senior Management Meeting on April 24, 2022, and at an All-Hands meeting to discuss the Future of Work on April 27, 2022. The All-Hands meeting included opening remarks from the Assistant Administrator, a presentation by the TCMST, and Q&A with staff. During one of the check-ins, the RFS Activity Manager asked the TCMST to facilitate workshops on updating a Bureau meeting norms document. The details and participants of these workshops will be finalized in May 2022. The TCMST's Team Lead attended a free online workshop in March where he connected with a member of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Hybrid Work Culture working group. As a result, a meeting was scheduled for April 29, 2022, between TCMST and the member of the U.S. Environmental Protection Hybrid Work Culture working group to share best practices that can support and improve their respective hybrid work environment endeavors. The TCMST Coaching Program provided individual coaching to ITR and RFS in April under the Task Order, as well as anticipated coaching for the upcoming month. Key activities planned for May 2022 include refining ITR strategic goals and objectives, developing an ITR Results and MEL Framework, and developing an ITR Communications Strategy. The TCMST will also facilitate workshops on updating a Bureau meeting norms document and continue to provide coaching to ITR and RFS.