Management Capacity Checks

Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) and 13 other lead departments are embracing a major Government-wide change initiative, a fundamental shift in managerial focus toward the principles and practices of "Modern Comptrollership". Simply stated, Modern Comptrollership is a shift from a primarily financial focus to a broader perspective involving the sound management of all resources through informed, effective decision-making. This new focus is to be achieved by shifting the managerial emphasis from controls and compliance to results and values.

The federal government has placed a high priority on the Modernization of Comptrollership in departments and agencies. Modern Comptrollership is one of the priority initiatives led by Treasury Board Secretariat to modernize management practices across the federal government described in Results for Canadians -- A Management Framework for the Government of Canada. The direction being followed was set out in the Report of the Independent Review Panel on Modernization of Comptrollership.

One of the first key activities was for departments and agencies to assess their current capacities. VAC, along with Agriculture and Agri-food Canada, Department of National Defence, Human Resources Development Canada, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada, and Natural Resources Canada have completed these Capacity Checks. The Capacity Checks had two main objectives:

• to compare current practices to management best practices; and
• to help senior managers plot a course to improved management practices that accommodates departmental priorities and fits into the current management agenda.

The Capacity Checks are self-assessment tools to provide a baseline reading of existing modern management practices. Self-assessment has gained acceptance in both the private and public sectors as one of a number of useful tools to assess a wide range of management and operational practices.

The result of any Capacity Check is an assessment of how managers view key elements of modern management in their organization. The opinions and perceptions of managers are important in determining what should be done to move toward Modern Comptrollership. Information is collected and validated through interviews with managers across the Department. Capacity Checks contribute to the embedding of modern management principles and practices in the thinking of managers.

In assessing the findings from the management interviews, a rating system of "1" to "5" is used. A high rating is an assessment of maturity of modern management capability. Level 5 is based on a high standard of world class best practices and is therefore unlikely to be achieved at this junction. The appropriate, or "desired level" depends on the circumstances of each department, the business they are in and how management wants to respond to emerging client needs and the changing environment.

At VAC, two separate Capacity Checks were conducted. VAC senior management felt that the two Capacity Checks would provide an integrated and comprehensive assessment of the state of management practices in the Department. The first, the Modern Management Practices Capacity Check involved interviews with 32 managers across the Department and focused on the key elements from the Report of the Independent Review Panel on the Modernization of Comptrollership:

• Strategic Leadership;
• Motivated People;
• Shared Ethics and Values;
• Integrated Performance Information;
• Mature Risk Management;
• Rigourous Stewardship; and
• Clear Accountability.

The second Capacity Check, the Human Resource Management Capacity Check involved interviews with 38 managers across the Department and focused on the key elements from the Treasury Board Secretariats "Framework for Good Human Resource Management":

• Leadership;
• Public Service Values;
• Productive Work Force;
• Sustainable Work Force;
• Enabling Work Environment; and
• Human Resource Management Capabilities.

The purpose of these Capacity Checks is to provide baseline information on our broad management capacities against which we can measure our improvements in the high priority areas selected.

The Departmental Executive Board clearly recognizes that it is not feasible to be world class for every element. We must decide what the most appropriate set of practices are for us, as a unique Department, given the business that we are in and the challenges that we face.

The completion of these Capacity Checks in VAC is a significant step in establishing a management agenda to improve and enhance management capacities. The agenda will:

• integrate initiatives currently underway that improve management practices and address management capacities;
• identify and prioritize areas where we need to improve management capacities;
• encourage and support managers in adopting modern management practices and principles in their daily activities; and
• conduct further self-assessments to measure progress

Management Practices Capacity Check

HR Management Capacity Check

Check our Frequently Asked Questions page for more information

The report of the Independent Review Panel on the Modernization of Comptrollership is available through the Partnership Publications link on the Policies and Publications page of the Treasury Board Secretariat website.

Materials on Modern Comptrollership initiatives in other departments conducting pilot projects, including the results of the Comptrollership Capacity Check, are available on the Comptrollership Crossroads Publications page of the Treasury Board Secretariat website.

The Framework for Good Human Resource Management is available on the TBS website.