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New Web-Based Tool Helping Commands Measure Alignment

Navy NewStand

Story Number: NNS030331-13
Release Date: 3/31/2003 8:25:00 PM

From Commander, Naval Surface Forces Pacific, Public Affairs

SAN DIEGO (NNS) -- An innovative Web-based management tool is helping several commands measure how effectively their Sailors are working together to accomplish their primary mission.

Called the Navy Alignment Measurement and Tracking System (NAMTS), the tool was developed for the Navy by Dr. George Labovitz, a leading management expert who assists Fortune 500 companies in improving alignment within their organizations.

Here is how NAMTS works. Information is derived from a questionnaire tailored for that specific command. Rather then having questions one might find in an employee satisfaction or climate survey, the questionnaire is more of a series of statements about how that particular command should function.

On a scale of one to 10, Sailors and civilians are asked to rate whether they agree or disagree with each statement, with an answer of `one' indicating the person strongly disagrees and `10' being the person strongly agrees. By giving every person the opportunity to have a voice in improving processes within the command, the questionnaire or assessment is able to identify best practices, as well as specific areas that may be impeding mission accomplishment.

The real value of NAMTS comes in the analysis of the information. Leadership teams can view detailed, color-coded charts and graphs of how Sailors view readiness, effectiveness and efficiency. Managers at all levels can choose to view the results as generally or as specifically as they desire. For example, they can drill down to data by ship, department, pay grade and gender at the touch of a button. A department head may see exactly how their department views supervision, or how Sailors believe efficiency can be improved.

The Surface Force Type Commands in the Pacific (SURFPAC) and Atlantic Fleets (SURFLANT) conducted the initial alignment pilot project last year. Recently, Sailors and civilians at SURFPAC and SURFLANT conducted the assessment again.

"What is positive about this system, and the project as a whole, is that it takes advantage of the ideas and inputs throughout the chain of command to identify gaps in alignment and pockets in our organization that need help," Vice Adm. Tim LaFleur, commander, Naval Surface Forces, said.

USS Constellation (CV 64) Battle Group, currently deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, completed the alignment survey in October 2002, and the USS Nimitz (CVN 68) Battle Group, also deployed, completed the survey in February 2003.

"Great ideas come from all levels of the chain of command," Rear Adm. Samuel J. Locklear III, Nimitz Battle Group commander, said. "The methodology used in this survey allows candid input from the most junior Sailor right on up to our senior leaders. By using the feedback from the survey, we will be able to measure our overall alignment and increase our effectiveness as a battle group."

Navy Medical Center San Diego will begin their alignment assessment in April.

"What the Navy is doing with NAMTS," Labovitz said, "is taking advantage of innovative, leading-edge management tools, tools being used by some of the top companies in civilian industry, and seeing if they can be helpful in the business of combat readiness."