The status and privileges conferred on organizational Ombuds programs — allowing Ombuds to work differently in the organization than all others — forge the additional responsibility for programs to deliver and demonstrate actual value. Organizational Ombuds, expert in reframing new conversation about Ombuds program sustainability.
Organizational Ombuds and host organizations wish to account for the value Ombuds programs’ presence and activities generate. This long-standing interest promulgated qualitative (usefulness) and quantitative (return on investment) efforts. Despite this debate, few have enacted the leading practice to fully measure and properly communicate their programs’ contributions and value.
The authors’ core thesis asserts an expanded paradigm will allow programs, host organizations, and the public to better understand how the contributions programs make can be acknowledged and recognized as value additions. Optimally, these new patterns will stimulate higher usage rates, promote existent programs’ sustainability, and increase the introduction of new programs.
Prepared to Be Valuable JIOA 14-V7-1
KEY WORDS Ombuds program, integration, contribution, value