Hartland in Hindsight #13: Progress through Process
A local government performs a vast number of processes and duties in any given day, month, or year. Through the years, these tasks are passed down through generations of employees, many of them going undocumented, and not always updated or adapted to meet changing times. Through the past decade, as Hartland Township has continued to grow, employees have made a concerted effort to implement and modernize processes, increasing efficiency for both staff, residents, and businesses in our community.
One tool the Township has implemented is process mapping. Departments have taken careful measures to plot out various tasks relating to their workload, creating an organized set of procedures to follow. These process maps can be found for tasks throughout the organization, ranging from a simple water meter purchase request, to processing voter registration applications, and even large jobs such as road projects.
Whether the Township is working with a resident, a business, or other government agencies, jobs are more productive and efficient when both parties know what to expect along the way.
“We’ve been complimented on our process maps on multiple occasions,” says Township Clerk Larry Ciofu. “When our financial auditors review our process maps, and test transactions against them, it provides them with a much higher confidence level that the internal controls we have in place are effectively mitigating financial risks for the township.”
Besides increasing efficiencies, a proper documenting and standardization of tasks allows for more consistency and less confusion on multistep projects. When everyone understands the role they need to fill in their organization, it creates a true team.
“When processes are standardized, it holds departments and individual employees accountable,” explains Public Works Director Bob West. “Continual self-evaluation ensures that we are functioning to the highest standard and creating a work culture we can all appreciate and feel a part of.”
