Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership

Introduction

The society is faced with serious policy problems, some of which have remained stubbornly challenging to address. Recent efforts have been adopted in different states within the country aimed at addressing such problems. Integrated policy networks are anticipated in the process of capitalizing on different resources and strengths to solve the problems. The Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership is one such initiative, which has been approved towards the end of addressing the policy problem of unemployment by targeting its different facets, including poverty, education, and homelessness (Eyster, Anderson, & Durham, 2013). Different players from the public, private, and nonprofit sectors are engaged in the process. The network takes advantages of the modern elements of networking, including structural innovation and transference, collaboration, intergovernmental cooperation, and the application of big data. The network is evident of efforts that can work in addressing complex social problems.

Complex Social Problems

Besides unemployment, there are various other policy issues, which can be successfully addressed by taking advantage of the networking efforts. Among these concerns are problems related to health promotion. The modern day is characterized by an increase in the number of complex lifestyle diseases, including diabetes, obesity, and different types of cancer, most of which are preventable through lifestyle change (Prybil et al., 2014). For greater effectiveness in lifestyle change, the strength and resources of such a network as the Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership can be used. Behavioral change efforts to prevent health problems such as HIV/AIDs can also be more effective with such collaborative efforts. Domestic violence and abuse are other policy problems that could benefit from such collaborative efforts. Bringing together the input of players from different sectors is critical in finding effective solutions to the problems.

“Third Party” Model

The “third party” form of collaboration is the use of devolution of services and providing them through a third party. They could also be provided by using managed competition within the government. The use of the model ensures that the burden of providing the services is given to a third party that primarily focused on the provision of such services (Eyster, Anderson, & Durham, 2013). Among the benefits of the model is the improved efficiency in service provision as the third party is simply focused on the services. It also allows for increased accountability in service provision given that the third party has to be responsible to the contractors and the public. It would be possible to apply any other model to achieve the same result in providing the services, but none could achieve the same level of efficiency and accountability as the third party model.

Organizational Structure

Use of the traditional hierarchical organizational structure by The Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership in implementing the service provision was critical because of the need to ensure that there were different departments that capitalized on a particular activity for the good of the entire system. The model was also critical as it offered the benefits of reduced costs of operation and improvement in service provision (Eyster, Anderson, & Durham, 2013). The five different areas would be more efficient because of the expectations of effectiveness at each level. A different model such as a centralized structure could provide the same services, but potentially at a lower level of efficiency based on lack of competitiveness. With the traditional hierarchical structure, there was competitiveness since each of the departments would strive to provide the highest level of service provision to outdo the others.

Board Composition

The Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership’s Board of Directors has the role of overseeing the allocation of the resources of WIA. There are set requirements in the composition and the operations of the board. Among the requirements is business representation at or above 51 percent with different members from the diverse partners. The different interests, organized labor, education, economic development agencies, service providers, mandatory Workforce Center partner agencies and civic organizations are all represented within the board (Eyster, Anderson, & Durham, 2013). It is only with fair representation of all the interests of the partners within the board that they have been able to work effectively towards achieving the goals of the collaborative body. Inadequate representation would bleed discontent affecting the potential for working towards achieving the common objectives.

Possible Pitfalls

There are potential benefits in the development of such engagement like the Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership. However, there are also possible pitfalls in the use of such collaborative efforts in dealing with policy issues. One of the possible drawbacks is the lengthy and complicated decision-making process. In fact, different partners operate in diverse policy areas using their decision making processes that could influence the decision-making process of the partnership. Getting a consensus on policy issues can take a longer time than a situation where only a single agency is involved in the decision-making process. Another pitfall involves the interference of organizational interests with the working of the partnership. Evidently, the different partners come in with their interests that might interfere with the interest of the whole system (O’Leary & Vij, 2012). A multi-sector effort might be effective in the long term, but some challenges may emerge because of organizational differences.

The Purpose of Workforce Development Programs

The problem of unemployment is a highly complicated process. Therefore, it would not be possible for the workforce development programs approach the issue in its entirety. The platforms cannot reduce the level of unemployment within the county, as a whole, because of its complex nature. The focus is on the different facets of unemployment with the aim of addressing the general problem in the end. For instance, unemployment can be reduced by taking a focus in addressing poverty or improving education attainment. In fact, such factors, including inadequate levels of education and failure to address impacts of poverty account for the increased level of unemployment. The goal of workforce development programs within the modern global society should be based on identifying the particular factors underlying the major policy issue as well as and addressing them (Head & Alford, 2015). Such efforts are based on the complexity of the problem and the difficulties in addressing them in their entirety.

Conclusion

The modern globalized world is faced with serious policy issues, some of which span beholds the national borders. Therefore, efforts to address such problems cannot be effective when implemented by a single agency. Multiagency partnership efforts are more effective because they are informed by the complexity of the problem and the diversity in understanding the issues from the different perspectives. Such partnerships also take advantage of the diversity of resources and strength brought in from the various agencies. The partnerships are the most effective means of addressing the complex social issues from diverse perspectives.