Class of March 31

1
Class of March 31

• Finish Carolyn Weaver interview
• Student presentation on Ontario budget of March
  26
• Careers in the public service (continued)
• Public service human resource management issues
• Concluding comments

2
Ontario Budget (B) Last Year
3
Economic Assumptions Underlying Forecasts Last
Year

• Canadian real GDP growth of 1.1 in 2008, 2,1
  in 2009, 2.7 in 2010, similar scenario for US
• Canadian dollar to remain near parity with US
• Oil prices to remain high (80US/barrel)

4
Last Years New Initiatives

• Three year 1.5B Skills to Jobs Action Plan
  (retrain unemployed, post-secondary student
  grants, construction)
• 154M over 3 years for early detection and
  treatment of breast, cervical, colorectal cancers
• 180M over 3 years to reduce emergency room
  waiting times
• 448M over 5 years to repair highway bridges
• 135M over 3 years for dental services for
  low-income Ontarians

5
Elite Recruitment

• Common practice (Imperial China, UK, India,
  Singapore, Japan, France, SK, ON, CA)
• Identification and recruitment
• Civil service colleges
• Rotation and on-the-job training
• Support for advanced university degrees
• Fast track to senior positions
• Are these programs the best way to identify
  talent?
• Do they conflict with the merit principle?

6
Competing with the Private Sector

• Professions in high demand (IT specialists)
• Competitive pay at entry level
• Senior public servants paid less than private
  sector counterparts
• Money versus impact on society

7
Managing Diversity

• Public sector attempts to be a model employer,
  helps in recruiting talent
• Public sector as representative of a diverse
  society
• Importance of providing service to all
• Respecting differences in the work force
  (holidays, clothing)

8
Main Themes of Blakeney-Borins Book

• Importance of teamwork (ministers as judges as
  well as advocates, senior public servants as
  administrative leaders)
• Policies and programs that are responsive to the
  public important to encourage and listen to
  feedback
• Organizational structures to encourage creativity
  (e.g. state of the nation, secretariats for
  policy development)
• Build an excellent public service (elite
  recruitment, training and management development,
  show appreciation)

9
Main Themes ofBlakeney-Borins Book

• Accountability for performance (no to upward
  delegation, yes to detailed political platforms,
  yes to management by results)
• Get the timing right (make budget cuts early in
  the mandate, implement new programs early in the
  mandate, balance budget by end of mandate)
• Keep talking about these values (keep giving the
  speech)

10
Take-aways for You

• Government is a large and important organization
  in society. Deepen your understanding as
  citizens of how it works, especially interplay
  between politics and management.
• Public sector or political careers as an
  important alternative to private sector.

11
Final Exams, Grades, Evaluation

• Faculty evaluation online
• Final Exam, Wed. April 22, 9 am to noon, MW120
• I will be available by email, phone
  (416-287-7362) or appointment.
• Study lecture notes on website first, then
  readings
• All material required but emphasis on material
  after mid-term
• Mix of short answer and essay questions
• Closed book
• Good luck!