Premier On Government Reform Strategic Plan
“A strategic plan for Government Reform has been finalized and implementation will now commence,” Premier David Burt said in the House of Assembly today [March 1].
The Premier said, “The former Ministry for the Cabinet Office with Responsibility for Government Reform partnered with PricewaterhouseCoopers Advisory Limited [PwC] to deliver a strategic plan that, over time, is expected to change the way that Government delivers its services. PwC worked with public officers, Ministers, and consulted union representatives to produce the Plan.
“Our reform Vision is, ‘A future-forward Government for the people of Bermuda.’ It’s the Government’s intent to focus on the outcomes that society needs and wants while managing major economic, social and technological changes.
“Our people and our systems are the cornerstones of the change process but not in isolation. Simultaneously we will focus on upgrading the ‘platform’ elements of the public service. That is, modernising the organizational structure, and ensuring the workplace and IT infrastructure is designed for execution.
“In the longer term, the Government will focus on the development and implementation of an operating model that enables the execution of our strategy.
“As a part of the project mobilization process we will commence the next phase of engagement with our Union partners and key stakeholders. Work to determine what needs to be accomplished in order to achieve Public Service Reform.
“The Plan is both practical and aspirational. It builds on the reform work already undertaken or in progress which is strategically aligned with our vision and purpose.
The Premier’s full statement follows below:
Good Morning Mr. Speaker,
I rise this morning to inform this Honourable House that a strategic plan for Government Reform has been finalized and implementation will now commence.
Mr. Speaker, Honourable Members will recall the former Ministry for the Cabinet Office with Responsibility for Government Reform partnered with PricewaterhouseCoopers Advisory Limited [PwC] to deliver a strategic plan that, over time, is expected to change the way that Government delivers its services.
PwC worked with public officers, Ministers, and consulted union representatives to produce the Plan.
Mr. Speaker, the process of reform in public service is an exceptionally complex endeavour. Successive governments have considered and actioned a series of reviews and studies by a number of external consultants and produced voluminous reports. Elements of some reports have been actioned and other have simply been set aside.
Mr. Speaker, in accordance with this Government’s commitment to improve the efficiency of the public service laid out in its 2017 election platform, the Government reviewed the SAGE Report and evaluated its recommendations.
Mr. Speaker, there was however a shortcoming with that Report in that there was no unifying vision, no altruistic purpose, and no clear quantifiable objectives, all of which are key components of a public service reform plan.
With this in mind Mr. Speaker, I’m pleased to deliver a Government Reform Strategic Plan for the public service that includes our Vision and purpose, which codify the overarching reform objectives for the Public Service.
Mr. Speaker, part of realizing a vision, is actually having one.
Our reform Vision is, “A future-forward Government for the people of Bermuda.”
Mr. Speaker, it’s the Government’s intent to focus on the outcomes that society needs and wants while managing major economic, social and technological changes.
Mr. Speaker, the main focus of the Plan is the Target Operating Model and an accompanying Quick-Wins Plan that lays out specific deliverables to be accomplished in the near term. The target operating model is comprised of five strategic areas:
- Processes — clear administrative processes and policies; sound fiscal management
- Platform — organisational structure, workplace and IT infrastructure designed for execution
- People — committed, capable, well-trained resources receiving fair benefits for their work
- Perspective — customer service mentality embracing growth and business development
- Performance — culture of measuring activity and results, enabling true accountability
Mr. Speaker, within the Quick-Wins Plan there is a significant “people” focus — consolidating the human capital function; implementing system wide performance appraisal processes; building out our talent management and _ leadership development programmes and deploying an employee wellness programme.
Mr. Speaker, Our people and our systems are the cornerstones of the change process but not in isolation. Simultaneously we will focus on upgrading the “platform” elements of the public service. That is, modernising the organizational structure, and ensuring the workplace and IT infrastructure is designed for execution.
Mr. Speaker, in the longer term, the Government will focus on the development and implementation of an operating model that enables the execution of our strategy.
Mr. Speaker, to ensure success it is important that there is a dedicated team of public officers focused on implementing the objectives which have been laid out in the strategic plan. On Monday it was announced that the Deputy Head of the Public Service, Ms. Cherie Whitter, will relinquish her responsibilities as Permanent Secretary for the Cabinet Office and will be dedicated full time to Public Service Reform Implementation.
Mr. Speaker, as a part of the project mobilization process we will commence the next phase of engagement with our Union partners and key stakeholders. Work to determine what needs to be accomplished in order to achieve Public Service Reform.
Mr. Speaker, the Plan is both practical and aspirational. It builds on the reform work already undertaken or in progress which is strategically aligned with our vision and purpose.
Mr. Speaker, following the next phase of consultation with our Union partners, I look forward to tabling the Plan in this Honourable House.
Thank you Mr. Speaker.
How much was the bill from PwC and how do we know if this plan will ever be instituted and followed?
The report does NOT talk about accountability within the public service, so it might have a chance.
I’d like to congratulate the Premier on commissioning a Report. When are the savings to be seen through reduced Government spending and less taxes.
What happens if your “union partners” don’t like the plan? Also sir once you are done stealing the city will they be on once a week garbage collection plan also?
Ok let me get this straight. You are hiring the same firm to do your government reform that stated the America’s Cup will provide a massive return on investment? The same statistics that you called BS on, called the entire event a “Mickey mouse” event, and essentially based a large portion of your election platform on? YOU who publically diagreed what this firm produces NOW rely on them to do your government reform? Wel ain’t this some Shhhh. You sir are pathetic
Amazing what a difference a gov’t makes. Goes to show it just depends on who is delivering the message!! Hahahaha!!
What a load of WAFFLE! Fluffy stuff with little of no substance. Yet another report that will gather dust somewhere. It will join the Sage Report & so many similar before it.
The Civil Service has no interest in becoming efficient. Life is good shuffling paper back & forth, having endless meetings, never returning phone calls & spending days surfing the internet planning the next vacation.
Omg so well said!!!! Known by all yet dealt with by none. And THIS is the ugly core of our problems in Bda!
More b/s. Snap election time.
Bring it! This is embarrassing what is going on around here.
Another load of BS when will they actually accomplish something. Get on with improving this island for the better and stop worrying about what the OBA did or did not do. When you accomplish what they did then you can have something to spout about. Get on with the people’s business.
Fancy words and phrases totalling to nothing happening. Ask anyone working in government what changes are being made and they will say nothing!
How many Education Reports has PLP had and public Education is still in complete shambles. Just another PLP report to gather dust on a shelf….
why does he always talk like we are competing with another country for “the people of Bermuda” “Bermudians” etc any government is for this obvious group who else? more divisive crap and sound bites while nothing happens but sure as hell our money gets spent.
This HOA statement reminds me of the title of a Shakespeare comedy – “Much Ado About Nothing”
I see lots of words but I cannot discern any plan or even measurable goals. Can someone please explain to me *precisely* what changes I will see and when I will see them?
Ok good ,I understand. Small adjustments might need to be made in each case however using similar solutions like was used in trash pickup is a good idea.
for those that can understand in plain words the gov is going to find the stable baseline for all gov services delivered. baseline will be established from a middle ground where a services is in a state where its is stable/manageable and not over bearing on any parties/processes associated with the service. This means givers and receivers.
once you have the baseline you can plan for more efficiency and growth of said service accordingly
Ok, thank you. This is not an actual plan being put forward. It is a plan to develop a plan! Can you also please tell me when the plan to develop a plan will be complete and how much it will cost?
I know that any such questions about the actual plan cannot be addressed, as the plan to develop the eventual plan has not yet happened.