NCJ Number
53154
Journal
Police Chief Volume: 45 Issue: 12 Dated: (DECEMBER 1978) Pages: 70-72
Date Published
1978
Length
3 pages
Annotation
A SYSTEM TO IMPROVE INTRADIVISIONAL AND INTERDIVISIONAL COMMUNICATION IN THE MILPITAS, CALIF. POLICE DEPARTMENT IS DESCRIBED.
Abstract
THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE MATRIX ORGANIZATION GREW FROM THE BELIEF THAT A NARROW ADHERENCE TO THE PYRAMIDAL HIERARCHICAL FORM OF DECISIONMAKING WITHIN THE MILPITAS POLICE DEPARTMENT WAS LIMITING COMMUNICATION WITHIN AND BETWEEN DIVISIONS IN THE DEPARTMENT ON IMPORTANT MATTERS. THE MATRIX CONCEPT INTENDS TO ENHANCE PROBLEMSOLVING AND DECISIONMAKING BY THE USE OF PROJECT AND TASK FORCE TEAMS COMPOSED OF PERSONNEL AT ALL LEVELS OF THE HIERARCHY WHOSE INTERESTS, SKILLS, AND KNOWLEDGE RELATE TO THE TASK UNDERTAKEN. WITHIN THE PROJECT TEAMS, EACH MEMBER IS GIVEN EQUAL AUTHORITY AND RESPONSIBILITY. THE FOLLOWING PROCESS IS FOLLOWED BY THE PROJECT TEAMS IN THEIR DELIBERATIONS: (1) DEFINE THE PROBLEM, (2) GATHER DATA ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND ITS CAUSES, (3) DEVELOP ALTERNATIVES TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM, (4) SELECT THE BEST ALTERNATIVE, AND (5) IMPLEMENT AND EVALUATE (IF THE RECOMMENDATION IS APPROVED). ONCE THE TEAM HAS COMPLETED ITS ANALYSIS AND AGREED UPON RECOMMENDATIONS, A DRAFT REPORT IS FORWARDED TO EACH MEMBER OF THE CHIEF OF POLICE'S ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF OR THE DIVISION HEADS FOR REVIEW AND COMMENTS. UPON RECEIPT OF THESE COMMENTS BY THE TEAM, THE PROJECT REPORT IS FINALIZED AND FORWARDED TO THE CHIEF OF POLICE. AFTER THE CHIEF'S REVIEW OF THE REPORT, HE MEETS WITH THE PROJECT TEAM TO RESOLVE ANY QUESTIONS AND RECEIVE FINAL INPUT BEFORE MAKING HIS DECISIONS IN THE MATTER. AFTER THE COMPLETIONS OF THREE PROJECTS BY SEPARATE TEAMS, AN EVALUATION QUESTIONNAIRE WAS USED TO DETERMINE SYSTEM EFFECTIVENESS IN IMPROVING COMMUNICATION WITHIN AND BETWEEN DIVISIONS IN DEALING WITH PROBLEMS. THE RESPONSE WAS FAVORABLE. (RCB)