Conference Action Plan Increases Return on Learning & Development Investment

CHANGE

UDOT’s Risk Management Division developed a simple one-page conference action plan (CAP), inspired by UDOT’s Transportation Research Board (TRB) accountability model, although it is an intentionally streamlined format. This plan is directed toward Utah’s Transportation Conference, but it can be easily modified for other conference venues.

Risk Management's Implementation Steps: 

• Staff Meeting 1: Leaders confirmed conference attendance, advised staff of the accountability process, and explained the rationale for moving in this direction. They sought input on the design of the action plan and answered questions.

• Staff Meeting 2: Attendees were given copies of the completed plan, leaders shared their expectations, and the group discussed its use in preparation for the conference.

• During the Conference: Team members are encouraged to keep their CAP handy during the conference so they can jot down notes and answer the questions as they attend.

• Staff Meeting 3: After the conference, the team will review their CAP responses together. They will share insights, transfer knowledge, and plan improvements.

• Next Year: Attendee's responses to questions 4 and 5 will be the catalyst for planning next year's Risk Management conference session. We are also adding session nominations to our strategic plan to help serve as an incentive to follow through!

RESULT

While this document is new, experience with UDOT’s TRB accountability model shows a significant difference between teams that have a conference accountability focus and those that don’t.

Requiring accountability for bringing back valuable insights and actionable ideas from the Utah Transportation Conference ensures our team will have a dedicated, purposeful, and unified focus. In this sense, it positions us to win before we get there.

Better yet, this simple process is easily adopted by any team for this or any other conference, peer exchange, site visit, training, or employee development activity.