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When trying to envision the structure of Michigan State University's Landscape Services department, imagine a flower with eight petals.
Each petal represents a group within the department, including: site crew; irrigation; arborists; hard surface/mechanics; gardeners; athletics; nursery; and golf course. This structure was in place when Gerry Dobbs, the university's landscape services manager, arrived in 2007. Now it is more formalized.
"Each of those petals is now supervised by just one supervisor," Dobbs says. "What we're trying to do is make sure the lines of communications are very clear in terms of who's in charge of which group. There's still collaboration among each of the petals, so to speak, but we're each accomplishing a goal to go ahead and get the work done on this campus."
Here are the eight groups and their responsibilities:
Landscape Services Department Acts as On-Campus Contractor
Building Construction or Renovations Include Landscape Plan
Facility, Grounds Managers Join Forces for Renovation Project
Consider Climate, Disease Resistance When Specifying Plants
Supervisors, Teams Maintain Key Landscape, Hardscape Items