A Useful Preface to A ONE D Report Card

Posted by Karl D. Gregory to the Mackinac Policy Conference blog

Early discussions of ONE D focused on transparency, accountability, focus, regionalism and a transition to a better Detroit metropolitan economy. This was said to have been in response to the wishes of thousands of persons who were surveyed, approached in focus groups or accessed otherwise about their hopes for the future in the Detroit area.

One wonders if Edsel Ford's Report Card scheduled for May 28 would engender added interest and understanding had two short preliminary sets of reports been issued to the public ahead of the Chamber's Regional Conference. Each of the six major agencies with the responsibility for implementation of ONE D could have issued a short report on the goals set last year, the efforts and accomplishments to date and the objectives for next year. Further, the agency in the lead for each of the five ONE D priorities could have distributed a short overview on the nature and baseline data for that priority, the plans, hoped for timeline and expected accomplishments in the future, together with indications on how progress would be measured for that priority. Should such a report not be possible, the report could have been explicit about why and the alternatives.

Perhaps next year, such an approach might be taken to promote understanding, transparency and to accelerate interest in the presentation of the scorecard to be given at the Policy Conference. When businessmen are serious, they plan against anticipated performance guidelines and monitor closely the results.

I look forward eagerly to Edsel Ford's presentation and applaud him for taking on this major leadership responsibility which is greatly important to the region.