AMMAN (JT) -- The Customs Department launched Monday a state-of-the-art software that will apply best practices in managing employee performance.
Accordingly, the department will become the first government entity in the Kingdom to embrace world-class standards of efficiency in the management and development of employees this summer
Work has been going on for more than one year to define and find a software package to meet the business and IT regiments of a modern customs administration.
The software consists of two key components: A Human Capital Management and Development (HCMD) programme and a System Approach to Training (SAT) software.
The system will help the Customs Department identify and develop employee core competencies, which is a major step in ongoing efforts to adopt international best practices in human resources development to ensure a more competent customs workforce across the Kingdom.
The HCMD/SAT software, which begins the first phase as a four-month pilot project on Monday, employs a sophisticated organisational development framework to measure employees' skill sets required by their job descriptions.
This will help identify best candidates within the Customs Department for the required positions and support workforce efficiency.
The system is supported by training software to address specific skill requirements among customs employees, and will be implemented by both in-house and outsourced human resources training experts.
The four-month pilot project is a transitional step to full implementation of Human Capital Management and Development at the Customs Department.
The smooth and successful implementation of the new system will herald a new era of standard human resources development practices that will create a more efficient and solid customs framework -- a standard objective that is advocated and supported by the World Customs Organisation (WCO).
The WCO, on behalf of member states, agreed to monitor the Customs Department's progress in HRCM and training reforms to identify best practices that can be applied by other customs administrations.
The Knowledge Management Committee and the IT Office at the Customs Department are responsible for managing and implementing the HCMD/SAT software across four locations: Three at the Customs Department headquarters and one at a field office. Both teams have completed 12-months of preparation, including orientation and training on operating the new HCMD/SAT system.
The HCMD software has been produced by a local software company and is integrated with Microsoft's information sharing software SharePoint that will help streamline business processes and technologies to reduce operational costs.
The HCMD/SAT system will be implemented through the financial and technical support provided by the US Agency for International Development through the USAID-funded AMIR Programme.
© Jordan Times 2005
