OMI University (OMIU) was developed to build leadership, development, learning, innovation, and creativity in OMIs associates. Initially targeted at OMIs leadership (Project Managers and above), the program was tailored around needs identified in employee satisfaction survey results. Since its introduction, 84% of OMIs managers have graduated from the week-long program. OMI also added a supplemental curriculum to OMIU, called OMIU II, which provides instruction and developmental opportunities in additional topics. The increase in overall employee satisfaction between successive surveys can be attributed in part to the success of the OMIU program.
OMI delivers specialized training to its associates to help them develop as leaders, coaches, and mentors. The multi-phase Obsessed With Quality training process lays the groundwork for OMIs approach to employee development, providing each OMI employee with more than 40 total hours of learning focused on OMIs participative culture, quality management tools and processes, customer satisfaction, innovation, and listening. An additional Walking the Talk phase provides managers and supervisors with practical skills and instruction in leading the quality process.
Supervisors and managers at OMI coach and mentor individuals and teams. Informally, OMI managers and supervisors empower their staff by setting reasonable limits, removing roadblocks to success, and allowing associates the freedom to identify, propose, and implement more effective approaches to perform job duties, or to pursue innovative solutions to problems. This participative management approach forms the basis of OMIs improvement- focused culture. Formal tools and procedures support the coaching and mentoring process. Mentoring tools such as career path flowcharts, Training Needs Assessments, and performance appraisals help managers and associates jointly identify personal and professional development opportunities.
1.1a(3) The Red Team meets each spring for a formal planning process. The number of initiatives resulting from this planning meeting over the past 2 years and their impact on future opportunities for OMI is remarkable. Several examples are:
Safety: OMI reorganized and refocused its safety program using input gleaned from an industrial client focus group comprising a private-sector leader, CH2M HILL, and OMI representatives. OMI added an additional Companywide Safety Program Coordinator position and realigned safety performance and measures, Annual Project Business Plans, and Team Cash bonuses.
New Technology: Using information from technology monitoring, OMI is helping to develop new processes for treating wastewater that will have far-reaching impacts on its industry.
Partnering: OMIs Market Analysis revealed future industry growth opportunities exist in a gradual and limited expansion in the large project market segment. To enable OMI to succeed in this market, the Red Team recognized the need for a partner