CitiesGoGreen - October 2008 - (Page 11) • S.W.O.T. stands for Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats. When filling out a SAM, a S.W.O.T. analysis is done to assess the decision’s impact on all four sustainability components. • The Stoplight system indicates how well a particular action achieves each component. For example, if the light is green, the action provides value to that component (more strengths and opportunities). If it is yellow, there are risks, but they are manageable. If it is red, there may be fatal flaws (many weaknesses and threats). A red light should prompt leadership to consider innovative solutions and overcome risks before moving ahead on that issue. SAM in action In Olympia, SAM has been used for everything from purchasing to policy decisions. One Public Works’ employee even used SAM to argue for a higher boot allowance in an AFSCME (American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees) contract. His argument was that the amount the City provided each year for work boots allowed employees to purchase only cheap boots, which hardly lasted the year. A higher boot allowance would enable employees to purchase higher grade boots. Such boots would last multiple years, and therefore be a more efficient use of natural and financial resources. SAM helped the employee clearly illustrate his points and justify them as sustainable. In turn, the City raised the boot allowance and is able to offer it less frequently so as not to increase overall costs. Olympia also used SAM to help formulate a bottled water policy. Like many cities, Olympia is concerned about the negative impact bottled water has on the environment and municipal water utilities. Many You are invited to use the Sustainable Action Map. Check out Olympia’s website at http://www.olympiawa. gov/community/sustainability/SAM for a template along with more information, testimonials and tips. Community How does this decision impact relationships, effective government, social justice, and overall liability? • Less plastic bottles in the waste stream. • City sends a message that it has committed to providing water sustainably. Economy How does this decision impact the local economy? What are its costs, both now and over the long-term? • Tap water costs less than bottled water. • Since the City does not spend much on bottled water to begin with, the City will not save much money. • Upfront cost - each department’s investment in pitchers/igloos & cups. • To walk our sustainability talk. • To inspire/lead/ask people to commit to carrying a resuable cup. • To take pride in Oly water. • May send mixed messages about storing bottled water for disaster preparedness. • To use this policy as a symbol of how to decrease associated costs of waste as part of our zero waste goal. city organizations have banned themselves from purchasing bottled water or are finding creative ways to market their tap water. In early 2008, the City’s Executive Team used SAM to articulate possible effects of a new policy to provide pitchers of water at all City functions and encourage the use of reusable cups. SAM revealed the following threats for the City to consider when shaping the new policy: In some circumstances, providing pitchers may increase the use of paper cups, when the only truly sustainable thing to do is use reusable cups. Making bottled water taboo may discourage some employees from hydrating during the work day. Discouraging bottled water may send a competing message against the City’s 72-hour preparedness message to store bottled water in case of an emergency. Despite these threats, SAM also revealed several strengths and opportunities in the new policy, which was given a green light. Understanding the threats and weaknesses, however, is vital to shaping and communicating policies so as not to undo other needs and goals. A holistic perspective on any action is especially important when shaping organizational culture, which sustainability initiatives often prompt us to do. One of the most exciting things on the horizon for Olympia is a Capital City Challenge against Montpelier, VT. The two cities have challenged each other to a duel to become the most sustainable capital city in the United States. Each city will write its sustainability goals into a resolution, and hold each other accountable for achieving the goals outlined in the resolution. Olympia will use SAM as the framework for thinking through and communicating its goals. As part of the challenge, city employees will be encouraged to use SAM more often and to share and communicate using SAM with the community. Amy Buckler is a Management Assistant with the City of Olympia, Washington. She will graduate with a Masters of Public Administration from the Evergreen State College in spring 2009. Amy is passionate about the role of local government toward helping communities become more sustainable. Along with her sevenyear-old daughter, she enjoys hiking, biking, and being on the water. Her favorite thing is the sky. 11 Leadership Required Manageable Risks Value Delivered October 2008 City of Olympia, Washington • All Rights Reserved http://www.olympiawa.gov/community/sustainability/SAM http://www.olympiawa.gov/community/sustainability/SAM http://citiesgogreen.com
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