DM subcommittees updates, February 11, 2005

DM Sub-Committee on Labour Relations & Dispute Resolution

• The Sub-Committee met on December 6, 2004 and endorsed the two remaining guidance instruments for the PSLRA / FAA - Co-development and Use of Employer's Facilities. Ongoing discussions and activities will focus on horizontal aspects of the project, including communications, learning and readiness.
  
  
• The PSMA Secretariat is working with the Human Resources Council, Labour Relations community, an inter-departmental network of ICMS Coordinators and small agencies to address gaps in readiness (e.g. ICMS, FAA Direct authorities).
  
  
• A number of knowledge transfer/outreach activities targeted at Executives (APEX consultations), middle managers and HR Professionals have been completed, with a total of approximately 1,600 participants in attendance.
  
  
• Two Informal Conflict Management (ICMS) design workshops were given on December 16-17, 2004 and January 5-6, 2005, to assist organizations in planning & designing their informal conflict management systems. The workshops were well attended, with approximately 70 participants from 37 public service organizations in attendance.
  
  
• Union engagement in PSMA implementation is ongoing despite Public Service Alliance of Canada's (PSAC) withdrawal from joint consultation activities. It is expected that the PSAC will resume joint consultation upon completion of the current round of collective bargaining.
  
  
• The next DM Sub-Committee meeting will take place on February 7, 2005.
  
  
• The next PSMA Union / Management Advisory Committee meeting is scheduled for February 11, 2005.
  

PSMA Project Management Overview

Issue:

To provide an overview of PSMA planning activities to DM HRMAC Members.

Current and Upcoming Activities

Project Management:

• The PSMA Project Management Office in partnership with central agencies, departments via its Interdepartmental Project Management Committee (IPMC) and network developed various tools to organize and facilitate PSMA implementation. For example a readiness assessment tool with specific criteria is now used to assess system-wide PSMA implementation readiness. This monthly reporting mechanism helps management in addressing key issues to ensure a successful implementation of the PSMA;
  
  
• The first readiness assessment report for PSMA implementation was due on January 13, 2005. Our analysis shows that most departments and agencies have taken steps to attain the level of readiness required. There is, however, significant work that remains to implement the various parts of the Act. The results also show that small organizations have greater difficulty in carrying out certain activities due to lack or resources;
  
  
• The readiness assessment response rate from departments and agencies was lower than expected. Only 38 out of 90 organizations responded, which represents 42% of the entire Public Service organizations;
  
  
• The next report, which is due on February 13, 2005, will be critical for senior management to confirm Coming Into Force of the PSLRA. It is, therefore, essential that all organizations affected by the Acts provide an accurate picture of their readiness. All efforts will be made to ensure that the next consultation on readiness be more complete and accurate;
  
  
• The Interdepartmental Project Management Committee (IPMC) meeting was held on January 19th. The main point of discussion has been the Public Service Readiness Criteria Assessments Results and update on the PSMA Secretariat Communication strategy; and
  
  
• The Interdepartmental Project Management Network (IPMN) meeting was held on December 8^th. This meeting was focused exclusively on SIF related process and business case for organizations to access funding for PSMA implementation activities.

Funding

• Supps "B" has been submitted to Treasury Board (on agenda for the 31^st January) and we are awaiting for a decision. Call letters for notices of intent has been sent on December 17^th to Heads of HR, Functional Communities and Regional Federal Councils and they have now the opportunity to submit funding proposals for current and future implementation needs; and
  
  
• The project management office is now reviewing the notices of intent received and departmental business cases are expected for February 28^th. These proposals will be subject to Treasury Board approval.

PSLRA and FAA Direct Authorities:

• The project is progressing according to plan. The policy work has been completed and rolled out to departments and agencies; and
  
  
• Coming into Force activities are being developed and are planned to start on target.

PSEA:

• The project is progressing according to plan. The policy, along with supporting tools, are to be released in January 2005; and
  
  
• Coming into Force activities are planned to start on target.

Learning:

• Pilot has been taken place in January;
  
  
• Training development is underway from January to April 2005 for PSEA; and
  
  
• Training delivery from December 2004 to March 31, 2005 for PSLRA/FAA and from May to September 2005 for PSEA.

Communications:

• All steps are taking place to manage and improve communications related to PSMA.

Challenges

The PSMA project team has identified and are mitigating project risks that could jeopardize the PSMA implementation by causing further delays. These risks are associated with the PSMA funding, especially towards delivery of learning, and, level of readiness for small organizations.These aspects remain major risks even though all efforts are made in that regards.

20/01/2005

DM Sub-Committee on Accountability, Performance Management and Reporting

Status update January 11, 2005

Recent activities

The last DM Sub-Committee meeting was held on Nov 17, 2004 and the outcomes were reported in the status update of November 30, 2004.

Working Group

• The last working group meeting was held on January 11, 2005. The working group continued to refine the PCMAF and agreed upon changes proposed. It was suggested that no more changes be made and final version be presented at the next Sub-Committee meeting on February 3, 2005.
  
  
• The working group has continued to validate the PCMAF indicators by using the data from the 1999 and 2002 Public Service Employee Surveys from a number of test departments and Jody Gomber and Chantal Bernier should be presenting results of the consultations with the Sub-Committees at the next Sub-Committee meeting.
  
  
• Discussions on PCMAF Central Agency Accountabilities were undertaken. A revised list of PCMAF indicators including narratives/definitions was distributed and should be discussed at the next working group meeting. Glen Bailey will share his views on this matter at the next Sub-Committee meeting.
  
  
• A presentation was made by Ralph Heintzman on workplace well-being pilot project. The project which implies PSC employees and managers aims at identifying key elements, factors and drivers of the well-being in the workplace. The group agreed that the conclusions of this project be considered on a handbook on "how to hire employees" currently in preparation.
  
  
• Consultations continue on the role of the working group. Some members agreed that the working group should play a greater advisory/sounding board role. It was decided that the meetings would be held monthly.

Forward Agenda

The next DM Sub-Committee meeting is scheduled for February 3, 2004.

DM Sub-Committee on Communications, Learning and Cultural Change

Status update January, 23rd, 2005

The last DM Sub-Committee meeting was held on January 13^th, 2005.

Communications

The committee approved the creation of two working groups to support coming into force of the PSLRA:

a.         A Communications Council, comprised of the Heads of Communications for PSHRMAC, TBS, the PSC, the CSPS as well as some line departments.The objectives of this group are to provide strategic guidance on communications, to ensure that key messaging is consistent between the four central agencies and relevant to departments and agencies

b.         Linked to the Interdepartmental Project Management Network and Interdepartmental Communicators' Network responsible for internal PSMA communications within departments and agencies. Part of this responsibility will be feedback to the PSMA Secretariat on communications efforts and impact of these efforts within organizations.

Several communications products and their production calendar were discussed and agreed to.

Learning

A demonstration of the CSPS' PSMA Resource Centre was provided.

Update on learning delivery strategy was provided:

• 60 classes in 12 weeks
• including six "Preparation for PSMA Trainers"

Forward Agenda

Next meeting February 24^th, 2005.

Proposed agenda items:

• Readiness criteria
• Governance
• PSMA Learning for HR professionals
• Measuring cultural change

Update on Staffing and Staffing Recourse

• The most recent meeting of the DM Sub-Committee on Staffing and Staffing Recourse was held on Monday, January 17th, 2005. This meeting included a detailed briefing and discussion on PSMA systems (including the E-resourcing project) and an update from the newly formed Working Group on PSMA transition issues.
  
  
• The products of the Integrated HRP Tools to support the integration of HR Planning and Business planning will be released in January 2005. Focused consultation on the draft Staffing tools kit will be undertaken in the regions from February to March 2005.
  
  
• The PSMA Transition Working Group co-chaired by Steve Tierney, ADM, HR of Agriculture and Jill LaRose, Associate Vice President, PSHRMAC had its first meeting on December 17th, 2004. This group will be exploring transition issues including priority areas of HR and managers capacity. A sub group has also been formed to assist the School in further refining the learning strategy for PSEA and to explore the longer term development needs of the HR community.
  
  
• The Working Group on Staffing Recourse, co-chaired by Karen Ellis, ADM, at DND, and Georges Nadeau, Senior Manager, PIPSC, held its first meeting on November 4, 2004. It is seized with reviewing issues the new recourse provisions of the PSEA and ensuring linkages with the PSLRA changes (e.g. ICMS). Two sub groups, DH investigations and Informal Discussion, have been formed to develop tools for departments to facilitate implementation.
  
  
• Further to the PSEA consultation event held on November 9th and 10th and the formal feedback from departments on central agency policies received December 1st, 2004, proposed central agency policies and guidelines are being revised for final approval. Revised policies and guidelines will be available to departments in early 2005 to guide them in the development of their staffing programs. Policies and support tools will be finalised and communicated by April 2005.
  
  
• The Canada School of the Public Service has completed its learning needs assessment of PSEA and is currently piloting two courses that have been designed to support PSMA implementation: PSMA Accountabilities and Responsibilities (P101) and PSMA enabling skills (P102).