By Rosemund Warrington HR/OD Specialist, CARICAD I n an environment of unprecedented disruption, public sector organisations today are under immense pressure to deliver results to ensure that citizens’ needs are effectively met. As a result, there has been a movement towards goals-based delivery of services in the pursuit of public sector transformation. This movement has been embraced by a number of CARICAD’s member states where comprehensive Public Sector Transformation (PST) strategies have been developed. Public Sector Transformation consists of deliberate changes to the structures, operating models and processes of public sector entities with the objective of getting them to run better. These changes can be structural or process-related including merging or splitting public sector organisations as well as the redesigning of systems, setting quality standards and focusing on capacity-building. All too often however, a holistic approach is not taken in terms of a more coherent approach to aligning all the components of transformation including structural/ systemic elements, and enabling mechanisms. Ultimately a more cohesive approach to transformation requires consideration of what strategies are appropriate at a particular time and how best to deliver more with less, taking into account the current fiscally-constrained circumstances. This article focuses on the key levers for Public Sector Transformation as reflected at the apex of CARICAD’s Public Sector Transformation Charter Framework (Figure 1). These key levers are the three Rs, namely, Resilience, Responsiveness and Results. For the purpose of this article, the following definitions of the three Rs will apply: 1. Resilience: the capacity of a system to continually change and adapt yet remain within critical thresholds. 2. Responsiveness: the ability to recognise and adapt to citizens’ needs by implementing strategies and establishing mechanisms that proactively take into account those needs. 3. Results: the outputs, outcomes or impacts of development interventions. The article further illustrates that transformation in itself is not a linear process, and that loops, not lines, better symbolise the way in which the total public sector system continuously evolves to generate different but related responses. Finally, the article shows how CARICAD is responding to these crucial Rs with the creation of an arsenal of values-based tools to aid member states in achieving transformation sustainability. Setting the Scene The Public Sector Transformation Charter Framework for Caribbean Public Services was developed by CARICAD in 2015. It establishes a general framework of guiding principles, policies and management mechanisms reflecting a common commitment of the Public Services of the Caribbean region. It is intended to serve as a catalyst for the reform, modernisation and transformation of national public sector entities within the context of each country’s realities and priorities. The Charter Framework is shown at Figure 1. Overall, the Charter framework provides a harmonised approach to public sector transformation among CARICOM member states. The Framework seeks to graphically illustrate and demonstrate a range of interactions that impact the public sector. In the public sector context, the roof of the Charter Framework represents the ultimate outcomes and the ability of organisations to deliver and consistently rediscover themselves. The stronger the outcomes, the more the organisation is able to withstand the threatening elements of the volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous environment. These aspirational aspects within the roof relate to the fact that at the height of performance, the public sector is expected to be responsive, resilient and sustainable whilst being transformed from a rules and procedures-driven culture to a results-oriented culture. The roof of the Charter Framework ultimately serves as a safeguard for measuring process and programme results against standards. The Charter Framework (the House) encourages total alignment of six pillars, namely Governance, Accountability, Standards, Openness, Capacity and Legislation. Public Sector transformation principles embodied in the six pillars promote the aspirational Continues on next page 11
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