Middle Management

Overview of Middle Management Information: LMI

In the vocational rehabilitation (VR) field, middle managers hold leadership positions in the organizational structure between the executive team and the staff providing direct client services. These middle managers are critical to the successful implementation of any new VR initiative because they have the opportunity of operationalizing and implementing new improvement initiatives established in partnership with executive leadership.

Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) regulations establish new standards for VR agencies to expand the use of labor market information (LMI) in client services. This is an example of an initiative where middle management’s role will be crucial for success. Once the division director and the executive team has set the direction, middle management will play a vital role in incorporating the use of LMI into the day-to-day operations of the agency through the work of the counselors.

This section links managers and supervisors to resources such as:

• Fact sheets on what LMI is and how it can be used to align client goals with transferable skills, training, and jobs
• Sources of LMI, and information on the ways that clients, counselors, consultants, and business relations specialists can use LMI
• Webinars and trainings on effective use of LMI in the VR context

Middle managers lead, communicate, and support staff within an organization. In this unique role, they implement both strategy and tactics. Strategy is the plan for a change, and tactics are the steps needed to achieve the desired outcomes within the operational context.  

These resources will teach middle managers about LMI resources and their implementation, which will help them to develop the strategies and tactics necessary for effective LMI use within their organizations.

Pennsylvania Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR) developed a survey tool to assess staff awareness and use of LMI. OVR presented the results of this survey to staff.

 

View a presentation by New Jersey Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired on how they integrated LMI into agency practice by surveying and training staff: Using LMI as a Counseling Tool [PPT].