W. K. Lis
Superstar
Ford's handwritten callback list is another example of how the Fords do tactics instead of strategy:
- It's clearly his handwriting. Why didn't someone else screen the calls and give him the summaries? Waste of time
- There's no room anywhere to write down a response, follow-up or additional data. He has no way of actioning the calls
- He's not tracking if the person answers - just calls. If he calls back and you aren't home then too bad
- Nothing is getting entered into a database, which means no metrics and no proof or performance tracking
Ford is generating a shitload of valuable data (both for him and for the city), which could be obtained with less effort than he currently spends doing it by hand. Ford gets the tactical win (quick call with an appreciative voter) but misses the ability to do anything strategic with the data. And that, folks, is why retail politics wins elections but doesn't run cities.
I'll rather call 311 than get voice-mail, or worse, a full voice-mailbox.