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Master Training Plan

Employee Orientation

The new employee orientation program is designed for all employees who are new to the Bureau of Engineering, including those who are joining the Bureau from other departments or Bureaus. This curriculum is intended to provide the employee with a sound understanding of the vision and the mission of the Bureau, major projects the Bureau is undertaking, and the Bureau’s policies and procedures. The entire curriculum should be completed within the first 90 days of an employee joining the Bureau. The training represents basic job information to be known by all employees. For employees who have prior work experience with the Bureau and have promoted/transferred into a new position, job shadowing of the immediate supervisor and Group Manager is an option. The intent of a day or two of job shadowing is to develop an employee’s understanding of the mission and the function of the group and how his/her contribution supports those functions.

Subject

Description

Hours of Training

Source of Instruction
New Employee Orientation
  • Message by City Engineer
  • A City Employee Policies & Benefits
  • Tour of Public Works Facilities
  • BOE Orientation
  • BOE Policies & Protocol
  • Discrimination Policies & Procedures
  • Group Orientation
  • Job Assignment
  • Workplace Violence, AIDS awareness

14 Hours Total

Delivered in three 4-hour segments and one 2-hour segment

Supervisors and Bureau Staff
Systems Optimization
  • Systems Optimization Philosophy & Basic Tools

8 Hours Total

Bureau Trainer
Basic Skills for New Employees
  • Computer Software
  • E-mail & Intranet
  • Workplace Safety & Evacuation Procedures
  • First Aid/CPR
  • Communication Skills
  • Letters, Memos, and Interdepartmental Correspondence
  • Working in a Culturally Diverse Environment
  • Ethical Decision Making

12 Hours Total

Delivered in six 2-hour segments

Bureau Staff and External Trainers
Transfer Orientation
  • Job Shadowing

8 Hours Total

Supervisor

 

Basic Skills

The series of subjects identified here are beneficial to all Bureau employees in their daily work or for the advancement of their professional careers. These subjects are available to all employees, regardless of their present career path. The mandatory subjects (noted with an asterisk *) must be taken within the first 18 months of employment. The other basic skills are considered supplemental skills training and are available to employees who are interested in further development, or as suggested by their supervisors.

Subject Description Hours of Training  Source of Instruction
The City Government*
  • Related functions performed by other Departments, Bureaus and Divisions

2 Hours

Bureau Staff
B.O.E Culture*
  • Working in a Culturally Diverse Organization
  • Values, Norms,and Ethics

2 Hours

Bureau Staff
Customer Service*
  • Dealing with the Public
  • Assertiveness Training
  • Active Listening and Problem Solving

12 Hours Total

Delivered in Three 4-Hour Segments

Bureau Staff
Civil Service Examinations
  • Civil Service Examination Preparation
  • Interviewing Skills and Resume Writing
  • Career Ladders

8 Hours Total

Bureau Staff
B.O.E. Processes
  • Overview of Project Process
  • Bid and Award Process
  • Environmental Impact Reports and Permits
  • Purchasing 
  • Budgeting
  • Funding

12 Hours Total

Delivered in six 2-hour Segments

Bureau Staff
Public Speaking
  • Developing and Organizing Material
  • Elements of Public Speaking

8 Hours Total

External Trainer
Systematic Decision Making and Problem Solving
  • Problem Diagnosis and Identification
  • Root Cause Analysis
  • Developing and Evaluating Alternatives
  • Systems Optimization Tools

16 Hours Total

Four 4-hour Segments

External Trainers
Negotiation Skills
  • Strategies for Negotiating
  • Techniques of Negotiation

8 Hours Total

External Trainers
Presentation Skills
  • Technical Presentations
  • Project Presentations
  • Using MS PowerPoint

9 Hours Total

Three 3-hour Segments

External Trainers
Computer Skills
  • Basic and Intermediate MS Word
  • Basic and Intermediate MS Excel
  • Access Data Base Software

8 hours for each class

Bureau Staff and External Trainers

 

Job Specific & Technical Skills

This portion of the curriculum is designed to enhance the job skills of all employees at the Bureau. This training may include specific engineering design training, advanced computer related skills, or any other training deemed appropriate to day-to-day job performance of the employee. The immediate supervisor of each employee is responsible to ensure that every employee will receive all appropriate job specific training. In addition to the training listed, employees may propose to their supervisors other training that the employee deems relevant to his/her job or career path. Although the primary intent of this curriculum is to provide job specific training to employees who are holding specific positions, other employees who seek or are exploring career changes may also participate.

Subject Description Hours of Training Source of Instruction

Job Specific Training
  • On the job training
 On-Going Supervisors
Technical Seminars
  • Specialized Technical Training
  • MS Project Scheduling Software
  • Design Methodology for Various Disciplines
  • Construction Management
  • Computer Aided Design and Drafting (CADD)
 Varies External

Cross Training (Intra-Division)
  • Training in functions performed by specialties within the Group
 On-Going Bureau Staff
Cross Training (Inter-Division)
  • Training in functions performed by specialties in other Groups
 On-Going Bureau Staff
Job Rotation
  • Opportunity to participate in a rotation program that develops skills in multiple specialties
 Varies In-house
Interacting with the Broader Environment
  • Other Bureaus, Departments or Boards
  • City Council
  • Mayor's Office
  • Board of Public Works
  • Neighborhood Councils
 8 Hours Total Bureau Staff

 

Project Management

This series of subjects will provide employees with the theory and practice of managing administrative, design, and construction projects and are developed in conjunction with the Project Management Manual. These subjects, although a requirement for some classifications, are open to all employees who are interested in the subject for a job/career-related reason. Employees who wish to participate in the Advanced Project Management subjects must first demonstrate a sound understanding of principles of project management and project control systems identified here.

Subject Description Hours of Training Source of Instruction
Project Management
  • Roles & Responsibilities
  • Project Management Skills
  • Project Planning
  • Project Design
  • Bid and Award Process
  • Construction
  • Project Acceptance and Close Out
  • Project Management Tools

40 Hours Total

Each topic has subsections and should track with the Project Management Manual

Bureau Staff of Project Managers And External Trainers
Systems in Support of Project Management
  • Scheduling Techniques and Software
  • Design-Build Process
  • Bureau's adopted approach to Project Controls and Reporting

16 Hours Total

Bureau Staff
Consultant/Contractor Management
  • Developing "Requests For Proposals"
  • Contracts and Legal Requirements
  • Consultant Selection
  • Contract and Claims Negotiation
  • Contract Management

12 Hours Total 

Three 4-hour Segments

Bureau Staff
Advanced Project Management
  • Problem Solving and Claims Resolution
  • Managing Multi-disciplined Teams
  • Master Schedules
  • Resource Loading

32 Hours Total

External Trainers

 

Supervisory Training

All Bureau employees who serve in assignments where supervising other employees is required are encouraged to participate in these series of subjects. Employees who aspire to positions that require supervision may also participate. Actual supervision experience is not required.

Subject Description Hours of Training Source of Introduction
Basic Supervisory Training
  • Principles of Basic Supervision 
  • Planning, Direction, and Delegation
  • Performance Standards, Evaluation and Counseling
  • Motivation
  • Conflict Management
  • Dealing with Problem Employees
  • Interviewing Skills
  • Cultural Diversity for Supervisors
  • Handling Issues of Discrimination/Harassment
  • Preventing Workplace Violence
  • Discipline and Grievance Processes
  • AIDS Awareness
  • Any other required training as mandated

40 Hours Total

Each Segment Varies in Time Allotted

 Bureau Staff and City of L.A. Staff
Ethics in Civil Service
  • Ethical Decision Making
  • City of L.A. Rules of Ethics
 4 Hours Total Bureau Staff or City of LA Staff

 

Management Training

All Bureau employees who manage employees and supervisors are encouraged to participate in these series of subjects. Employees who aspire to management positions may also participate. Actual management experience is not required. Employees should have had the supervisory training, or its equivalent, prior to taking these classes.

Subject Description Hours of Training Source of Instruction
Management Training
  • Improving Productivity
  • Goal Setting 
  • Personal Communication
  • Time Management
  • Conflict Resolution
  • Motivating Employees
  • Managing Teams
  • Giving Direction
  • Controlling Work Processes
  • Situational Leadership
  • Systems Optimization

16 Hours Total

Four 4-hour Segments

 External Trainers
Financial Management for the Non-Financial Manager
  • Budgeting Process
  • Funding Mechanisms
  • Public Financing
  • Budget Tracking
  • Financial Reporting

15 Hours Total

Five 3-hour Segments

 Bureau Staff or External Trainer

 

Executive Leadership Development

All Bureau employees who serve in executive positions are encouraged to participate in coursework on these subjects.

Employees who aspire to executive positions may also participate. Employees who wish to participate are strongly advised to have completed the management and supervisory training identified earlier, or their equivalent.

Subject Description Hours of Training Source of Instruction
Leadership
  • Leadership vs Management
  • Service Leadership
  • Leadership in Civil Service
  • Communicating and Interacting with Staff
 16 Hours Total External Trainer
Long-range Planning
  • Direction/Vision Setting
  • Strategic Thinking and Planning
  • Succession Planning
 16 Hours Total External Trainer
Organizational Systems
  • Organizational Theory and Management
  • Organization and Work Design
 16 Hours Total External Trainer
Leading Change
  • Promoting and Managing Change
  • Dealing with Uncertainty
  • Reinforcing Continuous Improvement and Advanced Systems Optimization
 16 Hours Total External Trainer
Innovative Thinking
  • Expanded Leadership Topics
  • Specialty Executive Development Programs
 Three Weeks External Academic Program