a. No stone has been left un-turned

b. All the facts have been identified

c. All the assumptions have been revealed

d. Nothing has been considered impossible

e. All the alternative have been considered

f. All the advantages and disadvantages have been weighed

g. All the ramifications have been identified

h. Everything that could go wrong has been considered (Murphy's Law)

i. All the risks have been analyzed

j. All the resources that will be required have been identified

k. All the organizations that will be involved or impacted have been consulted

l. All applicable departmental policies, procedures, priorities and directives have been identified.

3. The concept of "Completed Staff Work" implies that each completed task, project or assignment, regardless of how complex or mundane, represents the employee's best effort. "Completed Staff Work" means that the employee has thought through the assignment, decided upon a course of action, obtained all the necessary information, weighed the alternatives, selected the best alternative, and developed an action plan.

4. "Completed Staff Work" is synonymous with the highest standards of professionalism. It preludes the attitude of "I'll submit it to the boss and if he doesn't like it, he can change it." In most instances, if the boss if forced to make changes, it is not "Completed Staff Work".

5. "Completed Staff Work" means the subordinate has sought to anticipate all of the boss' questions and has addressed them in the completed package or is prepared to address them when the completed assignment is presented to the boss.

6. Confusion often arises as to how much back-up material should be submitted as a part of a completed assignment. There is no hard fast rule. The completed package, whether it be a proposal, letter, memo to file, status report, tabulation of data, response to a request, or whatever, should either contain or have sufficient back-up information to be self-explanatory. The methodology underlying the completion of the assignment should be readily apparent to the boss.

7. "Completed Staff Work" means telling the boss the whole story, not just the subordinate things the boss wants too hear, or worse yet, omitting the part the subordinate doesn't want the boss to hear.

8. It is expected that a subordinate will seek advice, counsel and direction from his boss. However, the subordinate should strive to bring his boss answers instead of questions, solutions instead of problems, and proposals instead of alternatives. Each time a subordinate brings a problem to his boss without a proposed solution, the subordinate has failed the concept of "Completed Staff Work".

9. Do not burden the boss with long explanations and memoranda. Writing a memorandum to the boss does not constitute "Completed Staff Work", but writing a memorandum for the boss to send to someone else does. The subordinate's views should be placed before the boss in finished form so that he can make them his views simply by signing his name. In most instances, "Completed Staff Work" results in a single document prepared for the signature of the boss will usually recognize it at once. If he wants comment or explanation , he will ask for it.

10. "Completed Staff Work" does not rule out the use of draft to review the approach, concept and scope with the boss. In fact, the concept of "Completed Staff Work" encourages the use of drafts and status meetings with the boss to ensure the completed product will meet his expectations. However, and this is one of the basic commandments of "Completed Staff Work", drafts should be submitted to the boss well in advance of the scheduled completion date, not the day before the assignment is due. Never submit a draft at the last minute and expect the boss to drop everything to review it.

11. In solving problems, "Completed Staff Work" is the presentation of a solution in such form that all remains to be done on the part of the boss it to indicate his approval or disapproval of the proposed solution. The words "Completed Staff Work" are emphasized because the more difficult the problem is, the more the tendency to present the problem to the boss in piece-meal fashion. It is the subordinate's responsibility to work out the details. The end product should, when presented to the boss for approval, be in finished form.

12. The concept of "Completed Staff Work" means that the subordinate comes to every meeting he has with his boss fully prepared.

13. Listed below are some do's and don'ts of "Completed Staff Work"

a. Never submit anything (orally or written) to the boss with the attitude "If he doesn't like it, he can change it."

b. Never submit a document for the boss to send to someone else without the accompanying transmittal letter. If the subordinate's work is to be sent to others by the boss, don't make the boss write the cover letter.

c. Never submit a pencil draft to the boss for review.

d. Always proofread material. If is the subordinate's responsibility to make sure the typing is correct and the Xerox material is readable and in proper sequence.

e. Never make the boss read between the lines. Have the conviction to say what you mean.

f. Never submit a multi-page document to the boss as back-up material and expect him to wade through it. Either annotate or highlight the main points, or prepare a brief summary. The subordinate is to do the research, not the boss.

g. Allow the boss at least two working days to review and comment on any draft material submitted.

h. If a mailing slip is required, have it typed.

i. If extra copies are required, obtain them.

j. If the material will go into a notebook, have it three-hole punched

k. If a meeting with others is required, the subordinate should arrange the meeting. Don't expect the boss to call around, resolve conflicting schedules, and reserve a conference room.


l. If copies have to be distributed, the subordinate should do it. Don't expect the boss to write addresses on a dozen envelops.

m. If the boss needs supporting data (other reports, original letter requesting the study, organization charts, procedures, etc.) provide them. Don't make the boss hunt through the files.

n. If the boss needs to review your work, provide for it in your schedule. Don't expect the boss to take it home the night before it is due.

o. Assume the boss it busy and may have forgotten some aspects (and underlying reasons) for the assignment. Spend five minutes to bring him up to speed. Don't dump a completed assignment on the boss cold. If time does not permit an oral briefing, attach a handwritten note (be sure it's readable).

p. When presenting a completed assignment to the boss, present it to him in a logical, step-by-step approach. Anticipate his questions and include the answers in the presentation. One of the challenges of "Completed Staff Work" is to anticipate the boss' questions and have all the answers in advance.

14. In addition to the basic concept that anything submitted to the boss should be through, completed, on time and free or errors, the underlying philosophy of "Completed Staff Work" is to provide the boss with:

a. Answers, not questions

b. Solutions, not problems

c. Recommendations, not alternatives

d. Facts, not assumptions

e. Reasons, not excuses

f. Suggestions, not complaints

g. Specifics, not generalities

h. Brevity, not superfluous detail

15. In summary, if you were the boss, would you sign your name to the material you have prepared and thus stake your professional reputation and career on it being through, complete, accurate and correct? Would you be willing to have your next performance appraisal or salary increase based on the quality of the material you have prepared? Should you be considered for a promotion, would you be willing to have that consideration based on the effort you put into the material you have just prepared? If not, take it back and do it over, it is not "Completed Staff Work".

Remember

Describe the ___________ (subject) of this Staff Project

Explain the effect of this _________ (problem, issue, report) on the organization.

State what your recommendation is and why you selected this approach.

Commit to what you, your supporters and the community are going to do to make your mounted unit an on-going reality!