“There is nothing so useless as doing efficiently that which should not be done at all.”

By paraphrasing the words of the influential writer, management consultant Peter F. Drucker, we want to emphasize that it is frequent for an organization to concentrate a large part of human, financial and other resources on activities that neither in the process nor in the final result are beneficial to the organization itself or even to the public. The aim of each organization should be to try to maximize their own benefits and benefits to its customers with the least amount of resources.

Many local self-government bodies and organizations, including municipal administrations, would like to initiate fundamental changes in the same way as progressive business enterprises have done to their service quality, process management, but these organizations were individually unable to hire high-quality consultants who use the latest management techniques, like LEAN, which helps managers and employees make optimal decisions. Here, the project “The Cycle of Practical Training and Events Fostering Cooperation between Institutions and Capacity Building of Employees” (acronym “Open Leadership”, LLI-59), partly funded by the Interreg V-A Latvia–Lithuania Programme 2014–2020, came to the aid with the aforementioned LEAN methodology. The project has partially provided innovative opportunities for seven municipalities of our region (Visaginas Municipality, Zarasai, Ignalina, Kupiškis, Molėtai, Utena and Anykščiai District Municipalities) and at least ten municipalities in Latvia.

Innovative local municipality is not a revolutionary change but a result of everyday work. This is evidenced by the fact that even one of the largest state organizations, such as the Lithuanian police, Lithuanian Railways, part of the institutions subordinated to the Ministry of Transport and Communications of the Alytus, who have chosen the path of change and worked consistently and purposefully, achieved very good results: they improved quality of service without receiving additional appropriations, abandoned the loss-making functions, optimized the number of employees, improved working conditions and reached a number of other positive outcomes. This is what the municipalities of our region aspire to do, and the main tools (provided by the project) for change are: leaders’ resolve + clear goals + motivated team.

Thanks to the activities of the project, which is already in progress and will continue for almost a year, the employees of our regional administrations of municipalities and their subordinate institutions will get acquainted not only with the the principles of process management, advanced leadership, gain experience in regional and international working groups of culture, tourism, image formation, emigration themes specific to professional fields, but will be able, with the help of consultants, to improve the processes of providing the most relevant services to clients. The project is being implemented by the Euroregion’s “Country of Lakes” Directorate Office in Lithuania together with partners in Latvia, Latgale Planning Region.

Within the framework of the project, a number of activities have already been implemented in all the municipalities of the region, of which it is important to distinguish the 37 days of the training cycle “Inspiring leadership and effective management of the organization”, 19 cultural and tourism working group meetings, 124 hours for management and IT consultations in Lithuanian municipalities. Continuous training allows for a deeper understanding and provides space for systemic, long-term changes. On June 6-7 a practical conference “Innovative local government: focusing on the quality and efficiency of services” especially inspired changes and was held in Utena. Similar activities are also being implemented in Latvia. At an international level, together with Latvian partners, an international conference was organized last October, and this year joint Lithuanian-Latvian tourism and culture working group meetings have been launched, which promise sustainable development results in these sectors with close cooperation between the two countries.

Further, in Lithuania, it is also planned not only to continue the above-mentioned trainings, but also to launch other training on quality of service, law, IT, emigration, image formation and other aforementioned topics. Activities will affect all levels of municipalities: from the lowest to the highest. This will allow for the establishment of a modern self-government that is keen on changing, cooperating and creating a united, leading region. So, all together we seek to create an open leadership – a customer-oriented, flexible and sustainable self-government.

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This project is funded by the European Union. The Interreg V-A Latvia – Lithuania Cross Border Cooperation Programme 2014-2020 aims to contribute to the sustainable and cohesive socio-economic development of the Programme regions by helping to make them competitive and attractive for living, working and visiting. Programme website: www.latlit.eu. Official EU website: www.europa.eu. Total project budget is 382 667.65 EUR. Out of them co-funding of European Regional Development Fund is 325 267.50 EUR.

This article has been produced with the financial assistance of the European Union. The contents of this article are the sole responsibility of Euroregion “Country of Lakes” Office in Lithuania and can under no circumstances be regarded as reflecting the position of the European Union.

Information prepared by Euroregion “Country of Lakes” Office in Lithuania.

For more information about the project contact the Office at https://www.inppregion.lt/ecbiur.

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