Organizational Study of Information Technology, Law, and Purchasing Departments : City of Fitchburg, Massachusetts

Authors

Edward J. Collins, Jr. Center for Public Management, University of Massachusetts BostonFollow

Document Type

Research Report

Publication Date

5-2015

Abstract

The Edward J. Collins, Jr. Center for Public Management was hired by the City of Fitchburg to perform organizational studies of three departments, including the Information Technology (IT) Department, the Law Department, and the Purchasing Department. All three of the studies were to review the respective departments’ organizational structures, responsibilities, and practices with a goal of identifying areas of improvement that could result in improved operations and time and cost savings (IT and Purchasing) and areas in need of improvement (Law Department).

The Collins Center project team met with the directors of the three departments under review to understand their workload, how they organized the work being performed, and the challenges they faced, among other topics. Team members also interviewed multiple department heads and managers to hear directly from them about the kind of support they needed from the respective departments, along with the strengths and weaknesses of the departments from their perspectives.

The project team also contacted a few other Massachusetts cities to learn about how they were organized in these areas and also drew upon their years of experience in the field of local government.

Community Engaged/Serving

Part of the UMass Boston Community-Engaged Teaching, Research, and Service Series. http://scholarworks.umb.edu/engage

Recommended Citation

Edward J. Collins, Jr. Center for Public Management, University of Massachusetts Boston, "Organizational Study of Information Technology, Law, and Purchasing Departments : City of Fitchburg, Massachusetts" (2015). Edward J. Collins Center for Public Management Publications. 28.
https://scholarworks.umb.edu/cpm_pubs/28