For the last four years I have been a guest speaker at the Canadian Police College for the Senior Police Administration Course. While the materials on this page may be helpful to anyone, they are specifically organized to supplement and reinforce key concepts in my presentation for my students.

Gord Graham

I first met Gord Graham when I was on the organizing committee that hired him for a workshop on Legal and Ethical Issues of Police Administration in Edmonton a decade ago. His presentation was spectacular and informative. Gord Graham effectively applies his academic training and experience in law enforcement to provide very specific and practical approaches to risk management which all senior police officers should be applying. I highly recommend taking his training courses and attending his presentations if you are able.

Peter Senge

Peter Senge is considered one of the worlds top “management gurus.” His book titled The Fifth Discipline is a very important resource for any senior police leader/administrator.

Peter Senge – some links about systems thinking

Peter Senge, MIT Center for Organizational Learning (1995) Leading Learning Organizations

Systems Thinking I

Systems Thinking II

World Cafe

Developed by Juanita Brown and David Isaacs – World Cafe is a valuable tool for social engagement and organizational learning. I have used it with success in both adult learning situations and in public consultation processes as a senior police official. The ability to make effective use of this approach could be an asset for senior police officers in many situations. I note that you are free to copy and distribute the reference guide as long as you acknowledge its source and provide a link to www.theworldcafe.com

World Cafe – by Juanita Brown and David Isaacs

A reference guide for hosting a world cafe

Materials referred to in discussion of the nut island effect

Paul Levy, Harvard Business Review (2001): When Good Teams Go Wrong

Los Angeles Police Department, Rampart Area Corruption Incident Public Report (2000)

A Quick Review of Some Key Concepts

Take a few minutes to go over some key concepts we discussed during my presentation. Try to answer the questions, place your mouse over the card to see if you were right!

Systems Thinking

Peter Senge refers to three behaviours in any system which are:

Answer

Reinforcing Feedback

Balancing Feedback

Delays

Themes for Success

According to Gord Graham, what are the five concurrent themes for success?

Answer

1. Risk Management;
2. Designated, up to date and implemented systems;
3. Customer Service;
4. Accountability;
5. Integrity

For Performance Management

Measuring performance should be on the basis of goals which are S.M.A.R.T. which stands for:

Answer

Specific
Measurable
Attainable
Relevant
Time Bound

Team Building

Four stages of team development are:

Answer

Forming
Storming
Norming
Performing

Bibliography for Presentation

Paul Ceyssens, Legal Aspects of Policing

Gary Cordner and Kathryn Scarborough, Police Administration

Peter Senge, The Fifth Discipline

Terry Barker, Boss Talk

John Carver, Boards that make a difference

Kerry Patterson, Joseph Grenny, Ron McMillan, Al Switzler, Crucial Conversations

Roger Fischer and William Ury, Getting to Yes

William Strunk Jr and E.B. White; Elements of Style