The rest came from computer systems, editorial, post-press and other departments. They weren't told how to do it or given any further guidelines. They had only eight months to complete the task. Like other classes before them, their first problem was defining the task and focusing on possible solutions, according to Karen Nice, the human resources staffer who oversees the program. Each group starts out learning as much as it can about the newspaper.
Participants spend time in each department, learning how that group works.
Team members may go out on sales calls with advertising representatives or make deliveries with carriers. Once it has the education, the team often splits into subcommittees to gather data and attack individual elements of the problem. Participants come back together to share what they have learned and plan their next steps. All this is done in addition to their regular responsibilities. Supervisors try to be understanding about team members' new responsibilities, but they can't interfere with other work.