In the Zone: New high velocity development program prepares zone managers to lead BY ANNA TAYLOR • PUBLIC AFFAIRS SPECIALIST | PHOTOS BY SHELBY WEST • NNSY PHOTOGRAPHER
An updated High Velocity Training Program for New Zone Managers is helping Norfolk Naval Shipyard (NNSY) develop confident and effective leaders. The six-month course, which requires both classroom learning and on-the-job training, allows the Operations Department (Code 300) to qualify its zone managers well before they are assigned to a project. “It’s a corporate requirement to assign fully-trained zone managers to a project,” said Code 300 Resource Manager Kim Bess. “In the past, we weren’t able to meet that requirement, and it was difficult to assign zone managers to a project just to pull them offline to get training, or try to fit the training into their schedule while they’re working.” The new format allows Bess to predict the shipyard’s zone manager manning requirement two years in advance so Code 300 can hire and train the necessary number of people ahead of time.
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“It takes up to 12 months to hire them and six months to train them, so we have to plan almost two years out,” she said. The high velocity program offers a different approach to the traditional zone manager qualification process. In the past, zone manager candidates independently worked to complete their qualification cards with minimal oversight and assistance. “Before the new program was developed, zone manager candidates relied on word-of-mouth learning,” said zone manager candidate Philip Imhof. “Now we have time to focus on our qualification cards and look up answers to our questions in shipyard instructions instead of just using tribal knowledge.” According to Code 300 Training Manager Kathleen Borman, the decision to re-evaluate the process was based on a lack of qualified zone managers. “We also want to make sure our new zone managers are better
OPPOSITE PAGE: Zone Manager Program Coordinator Gail Lee (left) meets with zone manager candidates in the training facility. BELOW: Lee with training staff and zone manager candidates.
prepared to go to work after they complete their cards. They used to have six months to complete it on their own. We knew we were asking them to do something that was unachievable for a lot of people. This high velocity program is leaps and bounds above where we were before.” “We are a results-driven organization where every minute counts,” added Operations Officer Capt. Dianna Wolfson. “We need to equip our zone managers with the very best knowledge base and foundation so they come to the project fully-armed, capable and ready to execute. We already have new zone managers assigned to USS Harry S Truman (CVN 75) who have completed the six-month program, are fully qualified to help with the upcoming condensed incremental availability in early 2019, and will be dedicated to the planning and execution of its planned incremental availability in 2020. What a win!” In addition to the new qualification process, Code 300 also established a dedicated training facility and assigned full-time staff to ensure zone manager candidates receive the level of instruction and oversight they need to be successful. “Zone managers are the core of our organization,” said Borman. “They’re our future assistant project superintendents, they’re our future project superintendents. If we spend the time and energy to build them up, then we will reap the benefits in the future. And so will they. They’ll feel more confident moving to the next stage of their
careers as leaders.” Zone manager candidates in the high velocity program receive classroom training and spend time practicing desired zone manager behavior by shadowing their seasoned counterparts, process owners, and other subject matter experts (SMEs). They also have easy access to in-house coaching. “One of the improvements we’ve made in addition to the classroom training is to have a zone manager and assistant project superintendent available in our facility for constant mentoring,” said Zone Manager Program Coordinator Gail Lee. “So now our candidates have a SME available at any time, and the candidates and mentors are together all day long.” After completing the classroom training and on-the-job experience requirements, zone manager candidates complete an evaluation and a review board with three senior managers. “The performance improvement on those tests is already evident, which is a great marker for the success of the program,” said Lee. “Even if we left the program early to go to a project today, we would have a definite advantage as opposed to not having this formal training at all,” added zone manager candidate Kirk Romanchock. “But now instead of working on a project and learning as we go, we are able to focus on project management and training only.” The high velocity program recently finished its year-long pilot and is now a codified process, but Lee and Borman agreed there may be some minor tweaking inspired by feedback they receive from candidates and SMEs. “It’s a very successful program and we’ve worked hard to get it where it is now, but we really want people to know about it is that it’s a great opportunity for development if this is a career path employees are interested in,” added Borman. “If you have aspirations of being a project manager, don’t wait. We’re not going to throw you to the wolves, we’re going to walk you through it.”
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