Case Study: DEI Organizational Assessment
Client Context:
The City of Evansville, Indiana was founded in 1812 and is located on a scenic bend in the Ohio River. Evansville is the third-largest city in Indiana. The City’s workforce, about 1,200 employees, serves the City’s population of approximately 121,000 people within the city limits and more than 300,000 people in the metropolitan area. The Common Council of Evansville (City Council) is the legislative and fiscal body for the city government. The Council’s nine members are made up of one representative from each of the City’s six districts and three at-large members. Indiana has a “strong mayor” system, meaning the mayor has most of the executive and administrative power over the city’s daily operations. The mayor appoints or removes department heads and has veto power over ordinances passed by the Council. The Council has the final authority for funding and all money spent on behalf of City taxpayers. The city government is composed of about 28 departments and services such as emergency management services, environmental protection services, parks and recreation, fire and rescue, public works, planning and zoning, landfill, water and sewer, libraries, and transportation.
Scope of Services:
The City’s leadership understands the value of a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workforce culture and its impact on the community, both socially and economically. The City desired an independent study to assess its current DEI posture and develop a strategic plan by assessing the current workforce culture, policies, and practices. The City needed a customized approach that was responsive to its budgetary needs.
How We Helped:
KLS&A designed a customized study to provide the City with insight into its current state related to its workforce culture, policies, and practices. We designed a data collection plan that consisted of three key components: a document review, interviews, and a DEIB Maturity Assessment (online survey). Each data collection method was personalized to the City’s request, context, and need. Information collected from each of these data collection methods was analyzed and triangulated to provide the City with findings and recommendations needed to engage in the next steps of the strategic planning process.