Breaking Down Silos in the Workplace: A Framework to Foster Collaboration.

INTRODUCTION: Employees are often placed within an organization based on their respective roles or duties, which can lead to vertical and horizontal organizational silos. Organizational silos may restrict information, resources, and stymie progress and innovation. This analysis presents a framework to mitigate silos and overcome communication barriers within an organization by increasing collaboration. METHODS: The project team examined results from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (NCCDPHP) 2020 Employee Viewpoint Survey Results and conducted 19 key informant discussions with NCCDPHP employees. Participants were asked to provide feedback on (1) understanding silos in the workplace and (2) best practices for reducing silos and fostering collaboration. A thematic analysis was conducted to understand organizational silos, the motivation to reduce silos, and identify best practices and strategies. RESULTS: Respondents felt that siloing exists at the division and branch levels; however, 95% of respondents were motivated to reduce silos. Fifty-eight percent of respondents identified that institutional factors such as the organizational structure (n = 8) and red tape/bureaucracy (n = 3) contribute to siloing. Additional behaviors and actions that perpetuate silos were identified, and efforts to reduce silos were categorized to propose a model: Framework to Foster Collaboration for improving organizational collaborative efforts. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Key themes included inclusion, shared goals and vision, bi-directional communication, and relationship building and developing trust as critical elements for improving collaboration and creating synergy across teams in efforts to reduce silos in the workplace.

Perceived Importance of Physical Activity and Walkable Neighborhoods Among US Adults, 2017.

The importance of physical activity and community-level promotion strategies are well established, but little is known about adult perception of the importance of physical activity. In a nationwide sample of US adults, we examined self-reported importance of regular physical activity and the importance of living in walkable neighborhoods. About 55% of adults strongly agreed that regular physical activity is important, 40% strongly agreed that living in a walkable neighborhood is important, and 31% strongly agreed that both are important. Separately for each measure, estimates were lower among adults with lower education levels and who did not meet the aerobic physical activity guideline. Opportunities exist to improve the perception of the importance of physical activity and the importance of walkable neighborhoods.

Improving active travel to school and its surveillance: an overlooked opportunity in health promotion and chronic disease prevention.

Increasing active travel to school (ATS) could reduce the deficit in youth physical activity participation; however, surveillance of ATS is limited. Given that ATS contributes to our understanding of children's physical activity patterns nationwide, is influenced by local contexts and state laws, and occurs within communities, surveillance could be informative at the national, state, and local levels. Following a National Collaborative on Childhood Obesity Research workshop, this commentary offers insights into strengthening surveillance and data collection of ATS behavior as well as ATS environmental, policy, and program supports.