The Eckerd Wheel™ is a set of interconnected processes. As the wheels turn, they drive desired outcomes, creating an opportunity for success for each person that Eckerd Connects serves. The three wheels of Organizational Performance, Organizational Culture and Organizational Vision are equally important. When they are properly aligned, the organization can achieve its greatest impact. This strength-based approach represents a philosophical commitment that Eckerd Connects strives to maintain in each of its programs and services.
Organizational Performance is divided into five spokes: Quality, Staff, Finance, External Relations and Growth & Transformation. The “Hub” is a combination of the children, families and communities we serve. As Mr. and Mrs. Eckerd said, “It’s the kids,” which includes their families and communities. Each spoke/value is in turn “championed” by one of five departments within the Eckerd Support Center with each department led by a member of the Executive Leadership Team.
The purpose of the Organizational Culture Wheel is to ensure each staff member is focused on attending to not only their individual needs, but the needs of those around them. This wheel ensures Eckerd Connects never loses sight of the fact performance is only possible when people roll up sleeves and get elbow-deep in the work. The center of Organizational Culture is “respect for all,” which can be mapped to Eckerd Connects’ first value: “We base our concepts upon a belief in God and respect for all, that every person is uniquely special and has inherent worth.” Surrounding the hub are the five Organizational Culture spokes: Integrity, Responsibility, Empathy, Caring and Happy.
The evolution of the organization’s services requires that we re-define the factors used to display how we ensure that every child has the opportunity to succeed. To measure this transformation, Eckerd Connects has developed the Organizational Vision Wheel to answer the question, “How do you ensure that every child has the opportunity to succeed?” At the hub, Organizational Vision represents Eckerd Connects’ belief that the prevention, intervention, and system of care practice models promoting resiliency offer the most effective pathways for success. Each spoke of the Organizational Vision Wheel includes supportive spokes that guide program and service design, implementation, and evaluation by suggesting desired outcomes for success.