Sessional_Paper_1949 — Page 98

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To whom responsible.

188. It is recommended that the O. & M. Branch in the Secretariat should be responsible direct to the Colonial Secretary.

Work plan.

189. This Branch should, in the first instance, make systematic organization, methods and staff surveys of all Departments. The order in which Departments should be surveyed, should be decided upon by the Colonial Secretary. This Branch should also be responsible for approving the purchase of all office machines, with the exception of typewriters.

Assistance from departments surveyed.

190. When a Department is surveyed for the first time, the Director's Secretary or Personal Assistant should, for the period of the survey, be seconded full time to the O. & M. Branch to assist in fact finding and to receive theoretical and practical training in organization and methods.

Implementation of reports.

191. When the recommendations for a Department surveyed are approved, the officer seconded should introduce the changes under the supervision of the O. & M. Branch and at the earliest opportunity return to his normal duties.

Opportunistic assignments in large departments.

192. After the systematic survey is completed, opportunistic assignments will arise as conditions change and as a Department increases or reduces its functions and work volume, these assignments should be conducted by the Secretary or Personal Assistant responsible to his respective Head of Department, after obtaining advice and guidance from the O. & M. Branch of the Secretariat.

193. The larger Departments may later find it necessary to employ their own full time O. & M. officer to conduct opportunistic surveys and system audits.

194. When such full time officers are appointed, they should be responsible to their respective Heads of Departments, inform and seek the advice of the O. & M. Branch on all surveys about to be made.

Opportunistic assignments in Secretariat & small departments.

195. The O. & M. Branch should operate assignments for the Secretariat and for those Departments too small to employ a trained O. & M. officer.

0. & M. Library.

196. This Branch should also establish a library on this work and the books made available on loan to officers employed on organization and methods. The Organization and Methods Division of H.M. Treasury have published a catalogue of books held by them and a copy is attached (Appendix Q) for easy reference.

Training of O. & M. officers.

197. The O. & M. Branch will be equipped to give the initial training to depart- mental officers operating on O. & M. work and it is recommended that officers employed full time on organization and methods work should, as convenient, attend a course of instruction held in London given by the Organization and Methods Division of H.M. Treasury.