ANU to boost public service performance

Associate Janine O'Flynn.

New research from The Australian National University is set to help public servants step up a gear, by developing a high performance culture in the Australian Public Service.

The ANU Crawford School, the University of Canberra and the University of New South Wales have joined forces with the Australian Public Service Commission in a new project which will strengthen staff performance.

Together they will develop a strategy to build a high performance culture, and better manage underperformance. The project will address some of the major findings of the Australian Public Service’s Ahead of the Game: Blueprint for Reform report released in 2010 by bringing together the expertise of the Australian Public Service and academics.

Associate Professor Janine O’Flynn from the ANU Crawford School will be one of three academics working to trial and recommend change to the public service staff performance model over the next three years.

"We know that a one-size fits all approach to performance management is not an effective model," said Associate Professor Janine O’Flynn. "This collaboration will use management diagnostics to determine organisational capabilities then develop a model to provide best-fit frameworks.

"This is not about designing new forms to be filled out. What we need to do is work together with the Australian Public Service to discover what works, where, and when. This will help to drive a high performance culture in the Australian Public Service, and enable public sector organisations to deliver on the goals of government."

The major collaborative research partnership presents a unique opportunity for cross-government and university engagement.

The project team has been specially designed to ensure that the project recommendations are evidence based, reflect best practice, have been tested within the APS and inform practical guidance material to strengthen the performance framework.

: James Giggacher, ANU Media - 02 6125 7988 or 0416 249 241