ICMA has identified the High Performance Organization Model as a leading organizational development practice for local governments, and is proud to partner with the Commonwealth Centers for High-Performance Organizations to deliver education and technical assistance on implementing these effective and proven methods in your organization. You can improve performance and make your organization the gold standard with the Commonwealth Centers for High-Performance Organizations (CCHPO).

Our Work

Through this leading practice relationship, ICMA and the Commonwealth Centers for High Performance Organizations offer a full range of management services focusing on enhancing organizational performance and improving the work experiences of employees and the communities that they serve.

Our client is the total organization—not just the management team, as the growth of an organization and its staff are inextricably linked.  We concentrate on the interactions among organizational units, staff, customers, partners, and other stakeholders and focus on the improvement of organizational processes and systems that can impede performance.

These foundational principles distinguish the CCHPO approach to organizational performance improvement:

• Leadership can be exercised by every individual at every level of the organization
• The “right” systems, processes, and structures can contribute to organizational performance, rather than impede it
• Stewardship and engagement of all can lead to higher performance of the individual, the work team, and the organization
• There is a need to address both the “vision” and “values” of an organization in order to reach higher performance
• All organizations must make time to do the work of leadership.

CCHPO’s holistic approach brings a strong foundation of expertise to complex systems, organizational culture, and performance improvement. It incorporates the latest research and practical field approaches into a comprehensive diagnostic change model. This approach enables clients to successfully integrate theory and practical experience through our partnership's strategic services and access to innovative tools and methods. 

To learn more about ICMA's partner, the Commonwealth Centers for Higher Performance Organizations, visit its website at www.highperformanceorg.com, or contact tmcgalliard@icma.org.