HUD's Web Management Operating Procedures

Section 2: General Procedures

J: Management Consulting

One of the keys to success of any Web Manager at HUD is to know and understand the goals, objectives, and issues facing HUD managers and then help managers use the web to address that work. To accomplish that role, Web Managers must be effective management analysts and consultants.

Web Managers need to use analytical knowledge and skills to evaluate management initiatives and issues - often on the spot - and be prepared to articulate potential web-related solutions. This is part of our entrepreneurial role - we need to get out there and stir up new business. And to do that, we have to look for opportunities to get "face time" with managers and then use that time to show them we understand their problems and that we have web-based ideas that can help them. Our mantra: never say "I can't help you" to a manager.

Departmental Web Team Duties

The Departmental Web Team briefs top executives about HUD's web products and the management opportunities they provide by setting up appointments when new executives arrive; by making presentations at Executive Management Meetings, Field Management Meetings, and other major management meetings; and by meeting with key staff either at their request or to promote new ideas.

The Web Team is responsible for training Web Managers how to be effective management consultants.

Duties of All Web Managers

• Generate opportunities to meet with managers.
  • Target both the top political officials and top managers in your organization and the managers at the operational level - branch chiefs, team leaders, and others
  • Examples of ways to meet with managers:
    • Schedule meetings with them to brief them on web management objectives and propose actions they may want to take
    • Send ideas for ways they can incorporate web-related initiatives into their Management Plans
    • Write memoranda for your organization head to send to managers, outlining web initiatives and inviting personal consultation
• Respond to opportunities to meet with managers
  • Brief managers at regular meetings such as staff meetings and staff conference calls
• Keep other Web Managers informed of outcomes that could be applied across organizational boundaries - share the knowledge
• Educate yourself on management issues and develop ideas to address management goals and problems via the web
  • Be familiar with the Department's strategic goals, annual management plans, news releases announcing new initiatives, and other Departmental reports. Stay aware of current initiatives and priorities
  • Brainstorm with the Departmental Web Team and other Web Managers ways the web can be used to support those initiatives and priorities
  • Identify opportunities to meet with managers to present option
• Follow up on all promises made. Take notes when you meet with a manager. Make sure you communicate any promises made to everyone who needs to know. Follow through.