Handbooks and Manuals
Our Handbooks will walk you through what can be complicated and time-consuming processes, like strategic planning, and developing mentoring programs. To order any of these manuals, send an e-mail specifying quantity, billing, and shipping information to info@commcorp.org.
The Business Impact Primer offers guidance to workforce development professionals on using business impact as a communications tool when building relationships with employers. Designed as an aid to be used in practice, the Business Impact Primer offers tools and real life examples from our experience. Workforce development initiatives are greatly enhanced when employers needs and language are incorporated into all stages of program design, delivery, evaluation, and performance management.
Cost: $10 each for fewer than 10 copies, $8 each for 10 copies or more. Cost includes shipping by UPS Ground. For quantities larger than 50 copies, please allow 12 business days.
A Hand Up: Guide to Mentoring, with "trainer's guide and hand-outs" provides individuals and organizations interested in establishing mentoring programs with clear, detailed guidelines to:
- Decide if a mentoring program is right for your organization
- Design the most effective mentoring program for your organization and/or your clients
- Establish selection criteria for mentors and protégés
- Match mentors and protégés
- Prepare both mentors and protégés for trouble free participation
- Support mentors and protégés throughout the program, and
- Evaluate program effectiveness
The best indicator of success for highly effective mentoring programs is the preparation and support of the mentors. "A Hand Up: Guide to Mentoring" provides a well-tested mentor training curriculum, with accompanying trainer hand-outs and exercises.
Cost: $48.00
Practical Strategic Planning for Workforce Boards
Workforce Boards are unique organizations that face a number of challenges and obstacles. They are chartered by federal statute, yet are often regulated by both their state and local governments. Board members are volunteers that are appointed by local elected officials, but are often in the position of establishing policies that impact municipal or county staff. The lines of authority governing workforce boards are often cloudy, as are their lines of authority over staff and organizations within their purview. They are often imbued with great responsibility but limited authority, and even more limited funding.
"Practical Strategic Planning for Workforce Boards" provides a step-by-step guide to lead a workforce board through a multi-faceted strategic planning process. While the guide takes into account the best approaches that organizational development theory has to offer in regard to strategic planning, the manual is customized to address the specific organizational, environmental, and contextual concerns of workforce boards. The guide follows one particular Board in its effort to develop a useful and relevant plan, and also offers alternative strategies, information on common stumbling blocks, and facilitation tools. This guide can be used either by workforce boards themselves, or to help direct a hired facilitator. Boards have also used this manual to help establish their guidelines and criteria for selecting a skilled facilitator or organizational development consultant.
Cost: $22.00
