Performance-based targets and values-based training needed for government employees in region's public sector, representing one third of world population
28 October 2002
With successful government stated as the key to a successful economy by speakers at the Dubai Strategy Forum (October 28-30 2002), the method of structuring departments and measuring their success in the public sector is considered crucial.
More than 1,000 delegates heard the call for a strategic structure that wipes out bureaucracy and encourages entrepreneurialism, where managers manage; innovators innovate and the teams are rewarded for their successes.
In addition, financial accountability, transparent management and the embracing of information technology are also said to be crucial.
The Corporate Governance debate took place between David Osborne, partner of the US-based The Public Strategies Group, Howard Wilson, ethics counsellor for the Government of Canada and Singapore’s Minister of State for National Development, Vivian Balakrishnan.
According to Osborne, an entrepreneurial structure and customer satisfaction benchmarking for all government departments is the only way forward.
“The idea in its simplest form is that ‘new output-driven units’ within government departments are created, liberated from red tape and geared to customer service,” said Osborne.
The structure, known as New Public Management, is said to be lean and focused but not without flaws in its attempt to measure the compatibility of the output against the outcome demands of the public.
There was a consensus that the expectation of citizens from government services will continue to rise and must be met.
The Tory government of the UK was cited as an example where the ‘service-delivery’ waters were tested with the introduction of the Citizens Charter in 1991. The result is considered a success with a delayering of public service units to the tune of some 30 per cent of the public sector workforce.
According to Osborne, the charter is now known as ‘Service First’ : “The survival of the streamlined, customer-driven units or agencies in Britain through numerous market changes, including a new government (Labour) also gives proof to the theory that public administration-led reforms tend to withstand the test of time – and politics – better than their predecessors.”
Looking at the United States, the Clinton administration introduced the concept of Performance-based Organisations (PBO) in Government.
Speaking on the issues of accountability and transparency, Wilson warned that creating guidelines are not always enough: "Fixing the rules is not fixing the problem.”
Turning to Information Technology, an E-Government embrace is key, according to the panel.
It is considered that with customer service measurable against results the public-government agency link can be strengthened through the use of technology to cut costs and speed service delivery.
Singapore’s Balakrishnan spoke of some successes, with several Southeast Asian countries as forerunners in the uptake of IT in government.
Countries like Malaysia and Thailand have been fast to embrace technology in government, particularly where customer service improvements can be measured to quick result.
In its second year, the Dubai Strategy Forum is positioned to encourage ‘open dialogue by leaders for leaders’ on all areas of regional governance, business and technology.
The region spans North & East Africa, Central & South Asia and the Middle East and comprises 1.8 billion people and a collective GDP of some US$1.5 trillion. At just five per cent of the world total, however, Forum organisers believe this shows the region is blessed with extraordinary opportunities ripe for major impact on the global economy.
On participation, the meeting has already attracted the attention of leading brands as Organising Partners.
These are: the rapidly emerging global media hub, Dubai Media City; leading upstream and downstream operator in the oil and gas sector, ENOC; the UAE’s national airline, Emirates; the GCC’s leading English newspaper, Gulf News; Dubai’s national bank, National Bank of Dubai, and the international firm of auditors and business advisors, PricewaterhouseCoopers.
In addition, activity sponsors include Booz Allen Hamilton, General Motors, Mashreq Bank, Oracle, Jumeirah Beach Residence and Visa.
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For more information and registration to Dubai Strategy Forum 2002, please visit the Forum website at www.dubaistrategyforum.ae or call +9714-316-6622.
PR Representative Susan Furness, tel +9715-0655-6126, +9714-391-5391 email susan@dubaistrategyforum.ae
For further information on Organizing Partners visit: Dubai Media City www.dubaimediacity.com; Emirates www.emirates.com; ENOC www.enoc.com; Gulf News www.gulfnews.com; National Bank of Dubai www.nbd.com; PricewaterhouseCoopers www.pwcglobal.com/me
© Press Release 2002
