PPPM Graduate Student Research

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https://hdl.handle.net/1794/25839

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Browsing PPPM Graduate Student Research by Subject "coronavirus"

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    Changing Work and COVID-19: Intragovernmental Response Best Practices
    (Oregon Policy Lab, Institute for Policy Research and Engagement, School of Planning, Public Policy, and Management, 2020-06) Herman, Paul; Ketchum, Corum; Rousseau, Jove; Spaulding, Jeremy
    This report looks to examine the question: How has work changed for Lane County departments since the outbreak of COVID-19? Our report contains a literature review, evaluative framework, example survey, and a set of workforce best practices for managers during a pandemic. We begin with a review of the most current literature pertaining to worker and managerial challenges caused by the coronavirus. The literature review outlines unique problems caused by work from home mandates and highlights difficulties faced by essential employees working on the frontlines. The review culminates with a list of best practices that managers can implement to ensure their employees have safe and effective working conditions during the pandemic. We present an evaluative framework describing how the County can create a survey tool to gauge employee perception of changes in work during COVID-19. Using Lean Data methodology and Ecosystem Strategy by Alnoor Ebrahim et al (Stanford Center for Social Innovation), we describe how to gather and operationalize data effectively to create positive organizational change. Then we use the tenets of Lean Data to suggest an online survey tool and a set of potential questions culled from the literature. A quantitative, easy to complete survey is presented for employees, with a more qualitative interview style survey example presented to gather manager perspectives. Finally, the report concludes with recommendations and best practices that Lane County’s managers can utilize to maintain employee wellness during this pandemic and in future emergencies.
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    Lane County Covid-19 Return to Service
    (Oregon Policy Lab, Institute for Policy Research and Engagement, School of Planning, Public Policy, and Management, 2020-06) Hudson, Kaylee; Matonte, Jay; Goldstein, Gennifer
    As the incidence of new COVID_19 cases of began to slow, the federal, state, and local governments continued to establish guidelines and plans to reopen government business and society at large. Our report proposes guidance and a suggested framework for the Lane County government reopening. It is estimated that the novel SARS-CoV-2 seeded in the U.S. in January of 2020. Since that time, the virus has spread exponentially in every state in the country. A shortage of testing supplies and personal protective equipment (PPE), the lack of effective treatments and a vaccine, and the aggressive nature of the virus have resulted in significant loss of life and economic loss; marginalized communities have been affected disproportionately, further victimizing our most vulnerable populations. Decisions and processes for reopening must be made in the context of all these challenges. To create a framework for Lane County employees to return to service, the following sources were reviewed and considered: 1) literature on government responses and reopening after past pandemics, 2) examination of local governments’ current reopening plans (including the Lane County Blueprint), and 3) current Oregon State and federal guidelines. Through this evaluation two primary lenses emerged: operability and equity. Operability requires a balance of health and productivity. We are recommending that in Phase 1 almost all business be conducted remotely. For Phase 2, we recommend: a) business that does not require in-person interaction continue to be conducted remotely, b) social distancing, sanitation, and PPE be employed and used consistently in office, c) masks be provided for visitors, d) physical barriers be erected (i.e. plexiglass), and e) visual cues be placed to reinforce social distancing. It is imperative that Lane County be adaptable and able to revert to previous phases in case of a COVID-19 spike. Equity requires multiple contact points for the public: telephone, online, remote pick- up/drop-off boxes in accessible locations. Phase 2 allows for in-person appointments, and Phase 3 allows for a complete reopening of service counters. Outreach to individual communities and leaders, and gathering data and input from those communities, is vital now and moving forward. Our team encourages Lane County to build on the Lane County Blueprint, incorporating processes that will ensure health, operability, equity, and adaptability through the COVID-19 crisis. The Blueprint has inventoried supplies and assessed capacity, which is excellent. What’s needed now is to build in processes on how to keep the curve flat while medical experts and scientists continue to search for and discover treatments and a vaccine.