Nuts and Bolts of HR Management

Nuts and Bolts of HR Management is not being offered in Sprng 2023.

We have approved an alternate course for the PWSA certificate. This course, offered through the Small Business Development Center at the Wisconsin School of Business, is:

Human Resources (HR) Basics for Non-HR Professionals on Thursday, May 11, 2023
See additional course details and a link to online registration.

You must use the code HRBASICS2023 to get a discounted registration fee of $195.00

Managing individuals or groups can be challenging at times. In this course, you will learn how to become a better manager by using good practices to manage people; including recruiting, training, development and evaluation of staff; feedback; and discipline. You will also learn about human resource management in government, particularly during difficult budget conditions, including the role of the operating manager. This course counts toward the Public Works Supervisory Academy (PWSA) and the Public Works Management Institute certificates.

• Public works supervisors who wish to sharpen their skills 
• Supervisors and managers who are new to the field of public works 
• Public works employees who wish to prepare for advancement 
• Public works engineers who are new to supervision and management 
• Public works professionals engaged in the APWA Donald C. Stone Center leadership and management career path

Making the Human Resource Management (HRM) Case

• Components of Effective Personnel/HR Programs
• Quality program characteristics
• HRM Functions: part of supervisor/management roles
• Wisconsin Policy Research Institute: Reform of State Government Operations Report and Implications for HRM Important HR/Leadership Skills
• Effective Communication: listening, understanding, valuing
• Building the team: feedback, positive environment, address conflicts and team problems, build trust Employee Selection Issues
• Knowing what you want: JD, KSAs, requirements
• Interviewing: behavioral, mistakes, suggestions
• Making the decision: references
• Documenting the decision
• What can you do to enhance this process?

Orienting the New Employee

• What are effective components?
• How can this be used to build the team?
• What can you do to enhance this process?

Performance Management/Assessment

• How can this process be effective?
• What have been your experiences?
• Conducting the process
• Conducting a feedback session
• Creating a Performance Enhancement Plan
• Review of an effective process/format

Staff Development

• Identify developmental needs
• Using the Performance Management process
• Obtaining staff buy-in
• Coaching
• Professional growth: promotional objectives

Documentation, Performance Expectations, Support

• Progressive discipline
• Following through: regular meetings, PEP, written summary
• Consider a mentor
• Ask for other suggestions to help improvement

Kristin Gebhardt

Director, Program Development & Special Projects at Madison Area Technical College. She's a strategic leader who is widely viewed, not only as extremely competent, but one who leads with integrity, care, and compassion. She has a unique ability to craft solutions and design innovative ways forward that benefits employees and the overall organization. Her focus is on service, fairness and a better way forward.

Benjamin Jordan

Ben Jordan is a program director with Interdisciplinary Professional Programs in the transportation sector. He has over 35 years of experience in civil engineering and public works. He earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign and is a Licensed Professional Engineer in the State of Illinois.