Managing a Multi-Sector Workforce

The work of government today—at every level—is no longer the sole purview of public employees.  Rather, the mission of any given agency or unit of government is accomplished by a complex mix of human resources from within and outside that agency or unit…from private contractors and non-profits, to non-government organizations (NGOs) and even individuals operating as independent agents…in other words, a multi-sector workforce. 

There are a whole host of challenges associated with managing and leading that multi-sector workforce, not the least of which is that with some exceptions, it has emerged without deliberate design or strategic intent on the part of a particular agency or unit of government; instead, it is often the result of all sorts of factors, some having little to do with the actual government work involved. In addition, it is largely invisible to the public—at least in a day-to-day sense—until some scandal makes it a headline.

However, these challenges notwithstanding, there is no question that the work of government can no longer be accomplished by government alone…whether that is good or bad, by design or default, is irrelevant. The bottom line: today’s public administrators must understand and be able to lead in a multi-sector workforce environment if they expect to be successful. 

This webinar will explore the realities of the Multi-sector workforce, and identify strategies for leading it successfully.

Learning Objectives

• Overview of principles for effective management of complex, blended workforces of public and private teams.

• Techniques to facilitate collaboration.

• Tools, policies, and practices recommended to effectively manage a multi-sector workforce.

• Analysis of in-sourcing vs. outsourcing management strategies.