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r _ <br /> 1r-Terni <br /> Leadership of the Twin Cities c_Siaff RVrf/16• I/7-'7173a) <br /> 400 Croveland Avenue,Suite 613 <br /> Minneapolis,Minnesota 55403 <br /> (612)623-9511 <br /> Communication Climate Study <br /> City of Mounds View <br /> Description <br /> The City of Mounds View through Chuck Whiting, City Administrator, contracted with James <br /> Arnott, Principal and Senior Consultant, Leadership of the Twin Cities, a Minneapolis consulting <br /> group to conduct a communication climate study of City of Mounds View personnel, including <br /> the Mayor, City Administrator, Department Heads, and employees. These persons were • <br /> interviewed in June through a combination of focus groups and individual interviews. The option <br /> of contacting Arnott via telephone was also provided. All persons interviewed shared valuable <br /> information with the interviewer. The specific content shared is held in confidentiality;however, <br /> any personal names involving potentially controversial situations are not directly reported in this <br /> report. The consultant has restructured testimony into broader patterns of organizational <br /> behaviors. This procedure reporting information provides a valid picture of the City's workplace <br /> communication climate, while protecting the candidness of those reporting. The consultant also <br /> • studied retreat manuals, city descriptive information, and other reports to gain a better <br /> understanding of the City of Mounds View. <br /> A needs assessment questionnaire was followed in all focus group and individual interviews. The <br /> six major questions were raised in all interviews. The probes or supportive questions were used <br /> when appropriate, generally determined by the context of the group member's work or interest in <br /> issues. The same applied for individual interviews. The questions are listed here: <br /> 1. Please describe how city employees communicate in the workplace. <br /> Probes: Open communication is practiced? <br /> We have a top/down process? <br /> Employees communicate with whom they feel comfortable? <br /> 2. Do you believe that communication problems exist? <br /> Probes: Information regarding important decisions is not usually clearly <br /> communicated? <br /> Is this communication problem specific to your department? <br /> True for the entire organization? <br /> 3. How would you like to improve communication here? <br /> Probes: Better-written, uniform internal processes? <br /> A more open style of communication between department heads and <br /> • employees? <br />