Olathe, Kan., City Manager Michael Wilkes and Assistant City Manager Susan Sherman have set out to build a culture of collaboration among city departments that aims to improve service delivery. They worked with the University of Kansas Public Management Center and the School of Public Affairs and Administration to design a supervisory training program that includes exercises designed to help managers improve skills essential for effective collaboration.

Wilkes and Sherman spoke with American City & County about the initiative and the results they have seen so far.