TNAG-0919-FCO40-1130-Inspection-of-Dependent-Territories-1980 — Page 14

A REVIEW OF THE ORGANIZATION AND FUNCTIONS

OF THE

OBJECT

CORPORELDRAGON CO

GOVERNMENT · OF

MONTSERRAT.

To plan a review of the organization and functions of the Government of Montserrat to achieve greater efficiency at less cost.

BACKGROUND

2.

In May, 1980, a Top Management Workshop was organized by the University Centre in Montserrat in collabora- tion with the Caribbean Centre for Development Administration and funded by CARICAD. This Workshop provided a forum for top Management (both Ministers and Civil Servants) to review their organizations, examine the problems facing them in a systematic and controlled environment. The more specific objectives of the Workshop was to allow these senior decision. makers in the public sector to come together for the following purposes:

a)

to review their own Ministries/Organizations, as well as related organizations;

b)

to identify performance indicators;

c)

to define performance problems and analyse same;

d) to identify performance improvement

strategies;

e)

to draft action plans; a

f) to identify follow-up action.

The exercise was a success in that it concentrated participants' minds on these vital issues, but in final analysis it lacked depth due largely to some participants' unfamiliarity with the dynamics of administrative reform; however, it was a very good start in the right direction, and Caricad are to be thanked.

3.

The Workshop concluded most importantly that the exercise was a start point for a general review of the Public Service of Montserrat with a view to improving its organization and efficiency. Now, having had 7 months in which to observe the performance of the Public Service, I agree with that

conclusion.

CONSIDERATIONS

4.

Like so many other Public Services in small territories, Montserrat's Public Service has been allowed to grow rather haphazardly. From my observations, it seems that pieces have been added to the structure of the Service to meet needs as they arose, but the approach to such reorganization was done piecemeal, ad hoc and without too much regard being paid to the rational and economic use of manpower. The result is a somewhat untidy and over-large service, lacking cohesion. The following factors have all contributed to the Service being less effective than it should be:

a)

Lack of precise definition of the responsibilities and functions of Ministries and Departments;

b) Inadequate job appraisal and job

description;

/ c) Insufficient..