Sheet 16
"PROJECT TEAM"
Recently, environmental problems have been a source of universal public outcry. In city A, various parties such as the garbage collection office of the city Government and other unaffiliated environmental organizations have tackled the issue of recycling. These activities have been undertaken independently without any form of collaboration between each other. In response to expressions of concern from the public and the municipal parliament, the mayor decided to formulate a plan that would free the community from hazardous waste and promote more comprehensive recycling activities.
The Mayor instructed the Planning Department of the city Government to establish an action plan for more far reaching recycling activities. The Department realized that a plan of this scale would require the cooperation of all the various sections concerned. It decided to set up a project team comprised of staff from each sections, so that the views of each would be incorporated in the plan. In doing so, it hoped that it would be a straightforward matter to gain their cooperation for its implementation at the final stage.
The project team consisted of one member of staff from each of the following sections; the Grass-Roots Section of the Public Relations Department, the Waste Disposal Division of the Department of the Environment, the General Affairs Section of the Department of Commerce & Industry, the Coordination Division of the Mayor's Cabinet and the Budget Section of the Department of Finance. The team was headed by Mr. Ishida, Director of the Planning Department's Planning Section. Two junior members of staff from the same department were to assist with secretarial work. The selection of the team was entrusted entirely to each section.
The head of the Planning Department informed each Department involved of its decision in writing. This document clarified the following points and requested that one member of staff from each section be assigned to the team.
： The purpose of this project team is to create an action plan that will free the community from hazardous waste proposed by the Mayor,
： Members of the team are required to attend meetings once or twice a week and assist draft the final plan,
： There is a three months deadline to complete the draft plan.
A few days later, a list was drawn up of the staff each section had assigned to the team. These were quite varied in terms of age, rank and experience and ranged from young staff in their mid-twenties to senior officials.
The Mayor attended the first meeting and discussed his idea of freeing the community from hazardous waste. Mr. Ishida, the Director, then explained to the members the reason why the team was set up , its principal purpose, the voices of concern from the public and the municipal parliament, and the time schedule for drafting the plan.
Mr. Ishida also tried to gather support among the team over the following points;
： They should try not to limit their interests to things related to the section in which they belong. They should think about the plan from a broad perspective.
： Rank, age, and years of experience would have no bearing in the decisions made. They should discuss everything freely and in full.
： They should each take responsibility for creating a good atmosphere in which to work. Everyone should act in a cooperative and friendly manner.
