12 November 2007
Effective performance and delivery of service were just two of the subjects discussed on Friday at a States Leadership Forum. The full day event, which took place at Highlands College, involved Chief Officers and senior staff from all States departments.
The event was co-ordinated and chaired by Chief Executive, Bill Ogley who had tasked his Corporate Management Board and their individual departments to highlight their contributions to the successful delivery of the overall strategic plan of the States. Each department set up a ‘Trade Stand’ which was ‘visited’ by all delegates during the session, allowing them the opportunity to find out more about the role each department plays within the organisation and giving them a better understanding of how important they are to it. A feedback session followed, in which individual departments got to hear how their colleagues viewed their performances (both positive and negative) as a result of their ‘visits’
Commenting on the Forum, Mr Ogley said, “This was the first time we have planned an event for this group of the States most senior managers. It is important that departments learn to communicate more effectively with each other and learn from each other also. Amongst the questions posed of delegates on Friday were to look at ways in which departments could improve the States performance as a whole by working more closely together. Friday’s event was just the start of a process that will see the outcomes of the day rolled out across all States departments to ensure that all employees understand what a valuable contribution they are making to maintaining Jersey as the fabulous place it is”.
“This event should be viewed as one part of our overall approach to organisational development. The focus of our organisational development programme is ensuring the customer is at the heart of everything we do. With that in mind, on Friday, all the senior managers who attended agreed to spend one day working in a front line service (other than their own) and view that service not only from the position of the staff providing the service but also from the position of the customer. We will all get back together in the spring to share our experiences and decide what more can be done to improve services from the customer perspective and agree what more can be done to support our front line workers”.
“Alongside this we are also investing heavily in management and leadership development, most notably our very successful Modern Manager Programme and the recently launched “Future Leaders Programme”, the latter which is designed to give increased opportunity to local candidates to compete more effectively for the most senior jobs in the States as they become vacant in the future”.
“Of course a very important focus of the day was our continued quest to seek out further efficiencies in the way we provide services and the organisational development programme will support those unceasing efforts”
The session was opened by Chief Minister, Senator Frank Walker, who reiterated his belief that the public service in Jersey is one of the best in the world and did not deserve the unfounded, often “scatter gun”, criticism levelled at it. However, at the same time, he made it clear that only high performance is acceptable. He urged delegates to use the day to broaden their horizons, explore every opportunity and be willing to share their findings with their colleagues.
- Ends -
Notes to Editors
1. For further information and comment, please contact Bill Ogley, Chief Executive, telephone 440401
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