THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, July 3, 1994 TAG: 9407010255
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 06 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Editorial
LENGTH: Short : 47 lines
What will happen to the ``City of the Future'' activities with the elimination of the Ken Kee's job as director of the Total Quality Initiative?
Kee, former personnel director, was named last year to head the city's efforts at quality management.
The staff and all the people who have volunteered to work toward the City of the Future have moved forward - almost in spite of the city's top management.
Over the past year, a number of citizens involved with the teams that include both city employees and volunteers have voiced fears that top management has not bought into TQI.
The elimination of the job and the termination of Kee seem to prove them right.
As described by some folks, TQI has not penetrated the invisible wall around the upper echelons of city government. In fact, at one session hard-working participants discussed a proposed meeting with the city manager to ask him if he were committed to the ``City of the Future.''
As one participant put it, the process is an exercise in futility if managers don't ``walk the talk.''
The manager announced last Tuesday that other employees as well as the responsibilities of Kee's department would be absorbed in the Personnel Department.
Considering how busy personnel appears to be much of the time, it seems highly unlikely that TQI and the ``City of the Future'' will be a priority for them.
That might answer the questions posed a year ago.
The change in city policy comes just at the time when one group is launching ``Face to Face with Race,'' a project to bring black and white citizens together in discussion groups.
The failure of the city to emphazie the initiative must not discourage the volunteers, both in and out of city government, who are supporting this project.
It's too important to the ``City of the Future.''
KEYWORDS: TOTAL QUALITY MANAGEMENT by CNB