Examples
Executive Leadership Development Program
and Emerging Leaders Progam
Defense Information Systems Agency
For the Defense Information Systems Agency
(DISA), the Center
adapted and customized its SES preparation training to develop a 200-hour Executive
Leadership Development Program (ELDP) for DISA’s senior leadership pool (Grades GS13-15). As
originally designed, the DISA Executive Leadership Development Program combined our SES preparation program
with an Action Learning Research Project that enabled participants to hone
their critical thinking, research, policy formation and implementation skills
by working to solve key issues associated with the agency’s strategic
transformation efforts. Over the life of the contract, DISA’s SPI Directorate
assumed responsibility for the projects, while GW continued to support the
presentation of project results through Poster Sessions during the Annual and
Mid-Year Conferences to DISA senior leaders. The ELDP Capstone Simulation was
added to the final Mid-Year Conference, which requires individuals and small
teams to integrate and apply a broad range of analytical skills (strategic and
project/program planning, small group dynamics and organizational behavior) to
an issue of strategic importance to the Agency, under conditions of
uncertainty, urgency, and complexity.
The Emerging Leaders Program (ELP), a linked program to the ELDP, was
designed for high-potential non-supervisory employees in Grades GS5 -12. The
ELP was designed to provide a comprehensive leadership development experience
for these employees that would deepen DISA’s pool of high quality supervisors,
managers, and leaders throughout the organization. The ELP blends traditional
classroom instruction at two Annual, and one Mid-Year Conferences supported by
web- and telecommunications-enabled coaching between meetings. ELDP
participants serve as mentors to ELP participants, sharing the benefit of their
experience in the agency and lessons learned along their leadership journey to
encourage the development of DISA’s emerging leaders.
Senior
Leadership Program
The
National Institutes of Health
The
Center developed a 10-day customized
Senior Leadership Program built around four of the five Executive Core
Qualification clusters for senior scientific and administrative staff at the
GS-15 level and above. In addition, the NIH chose to include executive
coaching, several leadership assessment tools, and our Organizational
Performance Simulation (the Big Picture) to provide a rich developmental
experience for its top tier of leaders.
Balanced Measures Simulation
Internal Revenue Service
The Center worked with the Internal Revenue Service to customize and deliver a two-day simulation as part of its Senior Management, Senior Readiness, and Executive Readiness programs. The simulation strengthens and enhances participants’ executive decision-making, strategic thinking, and executive communication skills.
Using
the IRS’ Balanced Measures, participants work in small teams, playing roles
they don’t normally play in the agency. Participants in the program must reach
agreement on the best use of limited resources to achieve the IRS’ performance
goals, presenting their solutions to an executive panel while being
evaluated—and receiving feedback—on their team work, leadership
competencies, and communication skills. The simulation also aims to develop
participants’ strategic understanding of the organization as a whole, not just
their specific business unit.
