Box 3, Folder 7, Document 58

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Box 3, Folder 7, Document 58

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PROGRAM FOR URBAN EXECUTIVES -- JUNE 1969 ©

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EVALUATION

!

Reactions to the Program



Very good overall. Some technical material over my head
but pointed out what I must learn as a city administrator.

Very good. High calibre instructors, good quality class
material. ;

Program is thought-provoking rather than practical in most
respects. Exposure to modern management decision making and
financial concepts valuable in making me aware of their
existence.

Good, with some minor exceptions re. scheduling and timing -
priorities not always clear.

Impressed with learning new concepts which can be used in
making management decisions. Material and structure both
“excellent. :

Worthwhile, generally relevant.
Very stimulating and worthwhile experience.
Very stimulating, extremely helpful and valuable.

Outstanding, although perhaps too much material made availabl
for only 4 weeks. <i

Excellent. JI gained a new insight into the possible solutions
of many of our problems.

This has been the most useful and enriching four weeks of educational
experience in my memory. M.,1I.T, deserves the highest praise

for venturing into this new program and I shall always be proud

of my association with M.I.T. and this program.

Very good, well-balanced.

In general, the program was excellent. Well administered,
well planned, very worthwhile,
Broadening, Stimulating, provocative with resulting insights
not before possible. Especially liked computer-oriented work
and flexible attitude of staff.

Stimulating, broadly beneficial as an introduction of application
of decision systems and technology to problems of cities.

Program content was excellent, offering a wide exposure to
the variety of disciplines represented by the group.

It provided a very good and most stimulating learning experience,
especially for a person like me who does not have the opportunity
of going back to school for a longer period. '

Grateful for the opportunity. I don't know of a better
investment of my time to enable me to help my organization.

Most stimulating and informative. I believe M.I.T. is doing
a great service to local governments by providing Such a
program, ;
Length of program (4 weeks)

about right: 11

too short:
too long:

Comments:

7
1

¥

lengthen to 5 weeks and eliminate weekend and
evening classes.

if possible to take the time from my work, one or
2 more weeks would be valuable

some people seemed tired by 4th week’

if any longer, would have to schedule a home break

alternative to lengthening program - cut down readings
and some subjects

too short for amount of material °*

only possible to be away from job for 4 weeks, but
could have stayed longer for information and content

additional week would help surer understanding of technical
subjects :

add.-more computer time, shorten T-group.

group is saturated at 4 weeks

couldn't attract top men if longer time

reorganize within the 4-week period
Number of participants (19) .

about right: 19
0

too few:
too many:

Comments:

0

could go up to 25 or 30 without distraction

good geographical distribution, too

no more than 20 to 24

no higher than 25, no lower than 15

20 would be ideal

20 - 25 perfect

perhaps diversify participation with representation
of other government levels and private sector
Workload

about right: 13 cs -

too little:
too much:

Comments:

0
6

OK if program extended,

make program 5 weeks with 2 hrs. of study scheduled

' each day

homework very heavy

little time available for readings

reading assignments overwhelming

too much reading, but valuable

too much reading

sometimes too many speakers scheduled in one day

if assigned less, would read more 5

class sessions right, preparation and reading too
much

insufficient time for reading

too much expected of us in evenings - classes,
entertaining, reading

reading assignments excessive; no more than 3 night
seminars per week

we needed reading assignment priorities

reading assignments too heavy, but J'1l read them
at home
Reactions to first week in Organization Behavior



Fabulous experience. I'm very sensitive about people and our
T-group sessions helped me calm down and get to. know my fellow
executives better. Irv Rubin - very fine. :

A. new experience for me. Time well spent.

At first, I couldn't tell what was happening. At end of
week it made some sense. Now I realize it has helped me
listen to the other guy.

Very helpful - (1) as a quick and deep development of community
among participants (2) as a transition between job and school
(3) as general learning experience about self and group behavior.

At the time I felt too much time was being given to it; now I
feel that any less time would lose purpose of its objective.
It will affect my job performance as much as any material received.
My reaction was mixed - it was a good way to break people from
the office setting, but was a whole week really necessary?

A very unusual and rewarding experience. Good preparation
for the next 3 weeks.
|

Terrific! Lab provided essential unifying factor for the
group. Its effects could be observed throughout the following
3 weeks. :

Cannot make up‘my mind whether one full week is best use of time
for a short program. In any event, the "community game" was
most effective and should be continued.

I may change my mind later, but I think now other parts of
program should be given more time in place of lab.

Trainers both good people, but I found my own group's
experience not particularly helpful for me. The "community game"
Simulation was, however, a beneficial exericse.

My first reaction was very negative. Now I believe it was the
most important part of the program. More advance information
and reading would have greatly increased the value of the
week for me.
At first I didn't feel that it was worth 25% of the course;
then as the week developed IJ began to see the significance;
observing one member who missed the first week made me
realize even more how important it was. We Should have
received, however, a clearer explanation in advance of what is
to be accomplished.

Session was helpful in personal sensitizing but went on for
too long.

This is a unique part of the program and should be retained.
Very meaningful and individually helpful. Group able to
relate more easily.

The unstructured nature of the lab made it at first mystifying.
As it developed, I understood better its significance. Perhaps
more lectures on behavioral science applicable to city
management would be useful. :

A unique experience for which I was unprepared. It made me |
more aware of other people's feelings. I think its objectives
could be achieved in 3-4 days, leaving time for a tour of the
city and learning of its problems, reading, etc.

Unfortunately, I was not here for the first week. I have
learned from the others that I missed a most, if not the most,
beneficial portion of the program.

Excellent. In my opinion the first week's activities made
the rest of the time more effective.


Additional Comments



I am very grateful for the opportunity of being of part of
the M,1I.T, Urban Executive Program.

There may have been too much material offered for the length
of the program as given, Faculty should be better communications
and more familiar with government material.

' Good mix of geographic areas and work responsibility of
participants. Should add more blacks, and involve people from
social service areas,

My thanks to all members of the staff for a job well done.
More faculty interest and exchange of agruments needed.

Special tribute to directors of program - willingness to shift
schedules and respond to group's interests. Faculty sympathetic,
understanding, and giving of their time.

Should provide a larger selection of reference reading material.

Build into the program a tour of Boston featuring those aspects
which instructors use as examples.

The coursework fills a great void in updating urban management
skills and techniques. Please continue.

Cities are heartened that top-level institutions, such as M,I,T.,
are aware of urban problems and concerned with assisting in
their solution. Thus, urban managers should be better equipped
to take a broader view, and be more amenable to new approaches.

I want to express my appreciation to members of M,1I.T, and
Endicott House staffs for making these 4 weeks a memorable
and rewarding experience.

Your program could be an excellent instrument to promote and
expand cooperation among faculty members and interest them in
collaborative work related to urban problems.

Lower tuition to under $1,000, to avoid technicalities in
obtaining approval for application.
Faculty with Material Not so useful



"Perspectives on Our Cities" - (Brower): could not figure out
what he was after

Economics with Thurow: too industry-oriented

Piore, Wilson

Seifert, Pogue, Miller

Pogue, Crowston . '

Wilson, Seifert - did not respond well to our particular needs.

Miller, Seifert, Collins

Collins, Wood

Fleisher, Brower, Seifert

Application of Technoloty to Urban Problems

Brower, Carr - overlapped; Pogue's background insufficient

Seifert, Brower

Seifert, Miller

Seifert, Holland, Brower
‘Faculty with Relevant and Useful Material



computer techniques (Crowston, Ness, Gerrity-

sensitivity training (Rubin, Kolb)

Thurow, Crowston

Crowston, Mills, Brower

Gerrity, White, Thurow, Piore

Urban Dynamics - Forrester

Cost Benefit Analysis - Thurow

Wood, Forrester, Gerrity

Ness, Crowston, Rubin, Forrester

Crowston, Ness, Gerrity, Thurow, Piore, Mills, Rubin, Kolb,
Forrester - all took their assignments seriously, related well
to urban problems, well prepared

Forrester - future of declining city

Thurow - cost benefit analysis

Crowston, Ness,Gerrity - decision concepts ,

Thurow, Crowston, Pogue

Crowston, Ness, Gerrity, Piore, Thurow, Wood

Thurow, Collins :

Ness, Crowston, Forrester

Ness, Crowston, Forrester

Crowston, Ness, Forrester

Thurow, Forrester, Crowston, Ness, Mills

Thurow, Ness, Crowston, Gerrity, Mills, Wood, Forrester

Piore, Thurow

Holland, Thurow, Gerrity, Forrester, Ness, Crowston - all thought-
provoking
Subject areas or Topics that should be added



Organization structure, personnel, manager's relationship
to his organization

more emphasis on personnel management

formal instruction in organization dynamics

more on taxation; more time for reading

organization theory (planning)

Super agencies in city

more on municipal organization theory

political science with emphasis on role of government in
the process of social change

organization, personnel management, finance, taxation - more

"How to Manage a City" - alternative systems; city, metro,
regional governments; bring in state representatives to
program

organization theory (authority, power, span of control, line
and staff) .

organization structure; increased emphasis on health problems -
more equal time to housing, employment, health

organizational structure on dynamics; applications of computer
to governmental problems : :

budgeting (as given by White in ad hoc session); more "hands on"
computer time

too little emphasis on environmental problems, finance,
budgeting

more emphasis on personnel management and accounting

organization and personnel administration

inter-agency or governmental relations

methods of selling programs, bond issues; public relations

a well-rounded program
Courses or parts of program which should be modified



more attention to transportation problems - should concern all
urban managers

Holland-and Brower

instructors should have more public experience and be familiar
with literature

economics needs refinement

more courses in urban dynamics

less time on details of Mgt. Decision Systems

"Perspectives on Our Cities" - should be designed to impart
information; show films; cut into key issues - "generational",
"backlash" etc.

more time on taxation theory and methods

urban dynamics received more attention than it deserved

Pogue was weak in communicating material , i

housing deserved more imaginative treatment than Keyes gave to it

transportation sessions unproductive

better coordination of "technology to urban problens" classes;
refine Management Decision Systems into separate courses

allot time to test Forrester's conclusions, tour Boston projects,
city hall, etc.

"Application of Technology to Urban Problems" not successful as
presented

Management Decision Systems excellent as program component, but
too detailed and sophisticated for most of us.

The three classes in transportation could have been consolidated
into one.

transportation sessions not useful - would have been better to
read about it. z
Courses or parts of program to be retained as given

lst week in organizational behavior

more sessions with John Collins and his practical experience
as urban executive

Fleisher and Seifert on transportation problems

Session with White on budgeting

Piore sessions on income maintenance

Thurow, Ness, Gerrity, Wood, Forrester keep them all

Wood, Forrester (The catalyst of the program)

"Human Resources", Economics, "Perspectives on Our Cities"

"Human Resources", Economics

just about everything - but less emphasis on Forrester

Management Decision Systems, Urban Dynamics - add a few more hours

Economics, Human Resources, Collins, ‘Wood ‘

Organization lab, Management Decision Systems, Economics

Management Decision Systems; application to urban projects’

Management Decision Systems; Economics

present course content OK as given
Mix of Mgt. Courses and Application of Technology to Urban
Problems

about right: 12

too heavy on management techniques: 3

too heavy on application of technology to urban problems: 4
not enough of either: 0

Comments; put discussions into urban setting

more statistical analysis

too much time on mgt, decision systems details

need more management sessions, and were of better
quality than "Application" classes which could
have been condensed

maybe participant workshops re. application of
technology to urban problems

management instructors and material very good

management personnel need more familiarity with
urban problems
Description of Urban Executive best suited to program



patient, willing to spend hours studying, and be receptive to
new approaches; be willing to share personal experience with
others but control his own political and philosophical
feelings - should work to solution of urban problems
middle or higher management from any department 35+ years
generalists in city government ~ from mayor's or manager's office
young, aggressive middle manager with at least 2 years
municipal government experience.
position to make management decisions and authority to carry
. through
must be committed. Group Should be well mixed (big and small
cities, black and white), as high as possible within administration
middle manager, 5 yrs. experience in urban affairs, close to
top level policy making
top executives, close to mayor
any top level official - also could come from state gov't.
top manager, and those being groomed for top
top most person you can spare, to really take full advantage
of program
30 - 40 yrs. old, non-appointive, from city of 250,000 or more
high middie manager making government a career
lst or 2nd level of top management, 25-45 yrs. old, college
graduate
i“ middle-top management concerned with policy-making
top positions in key decision-making capacities _
willing to revise ways of doing things, open to new techniques,
interested in self-development and to serve better
in policy influencing position, able to communicate
middle manager in line for promotion
Endicott House evaluation

fine in all respects: 16
OK but difficult commute: 3
more classes there: 1

too restrictive re. guests, children, family:
Comments about organization of the group (chairman and car captain)



worked out fine

“organization was sufficient and adequate

should have bartender only on special occasions

excellent

we made excellent selections

worked very well

both did a good job

quite good

worked out quite well

both did well, car chairman should be someone who stays at
Endicott House on weekends

performed admirably - fair, firm, gracious

all functioned smoothly; Sloan School staff helpful and obliging

fine

worked very well
Comments about information sent out in advance



couldn't have been better handled

_the less the better - no time to read in advance

it was fine

would have liked to know more about M.,1I.T, in general

all books should be sent in advance ;

perhaps send one general book - possibly one on organization
behavior

entire program well-organized, well-administered

some of the readings should have been sent

put all reading lists in single document

no time to read advance material

general information detail excellent

T-group theory itn,

map of Boston area; maybe mail study assignments in advance

complete and helpful as is

limited introductory materials for Mgt. Decision Systems

Comments

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