We have learned an enormous amount in last few weeks
about strategy and how it is pivotal for the success of an organization.
Maintaining my theme of understanding our government, I chose to delve deeper
into the City of Detroit’s problems and understand where they are headed after
bankruptcy.
First, it is clear that there was not strategy
initially for the City of Detroit. They failed to acknowledge problems, expect
accountability and evolve over time. As a result of the city’s unchanged
habits, they had to file for bankruptcy which was completed in Dec. 2014. A new
mayor has been elected and is tasked with reorganizing and establishing a
stable government for City. I searched for the strategy of the Mayor, Mike
Duggan, for the future of Detroit, but only found a statement about the strategy.
“His immediate priority as Mayor has been to implement a coordinated strategy
to address the numerous challenges residents have faced over the years, most
notably, blight, public lighting, transportation and public safety… His
ultimate goal is to reverse the 60-year population decline that began around
the time he was born.” (City of Detroit, 2015). I was not able to find an
actual strategy statement anywhere on the website or with a search of their
website. After reading our article ‘Can You Say What Your Strategy Is?’, it is
clear that the City of Detroit is not on the path of sustainable recovery or
revitalization. They have not established a clear objective, scope or advantage
in their strategy that can empower the multiple levels of the organization to
proceed with the path of revitalization.
The articles below show some of the major problems
that contributed to the bankruptcy and still exist today. I followed up on the
City of Detroit website and viewed their news. Most of the articles tell about
actions that the City is taking and though the objective is clear, the strategy
to accomplish the objective is not. This is a direct result of a failure to
properly define a clear strategy by the Mayor. The Mayor and other
administrators have not considered the capabilities of the City and continue to
spend large amounts of money trying to remedy problems that were created by
spending. A clear and effective strategy would begin with a reevaluation of the
processes, understanding the capabilities of the City and needs of its
residents. A better understanding of the City of Detroit would provide the Mayor
with a clear objective and scope of the most important needs and projects and
any advantages that they have to benefit them following the bankruptcy. Clearly,
the City may have finished its bankruptcy, but they are far from being out of
dangerous waters. The Mayor and administration desperately need to develop and
effective strategy for the City that all employees can understand and put into
practice to save a once vibrant City.
City of Detroit, Mayors Office. http://www.detroitmi.gov/Government/Mayors-Office/Administration.
2015.Web. July 19, 2015.
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