Focal Point IN THIS ISSUE: News from IPAA …………………………………………..1 Striking a balance between independence & responsiveness……………………………………………..1&2 Women in Leadership………………………………….3 For the Diary and welcome new members .4

AUTUMN 2008

News from IPAA …

Striking a balance between independence & responsiveness “How far should public servants go in responding to the directions of their political masters?” The realted issues of responsiveness and independence were considered in a high-level Roundtable Event held at Melbourne University on Friday 13 March. With esteemed speakers, including Andrew Podger (IPAA National President), Allan Fells (ANZSOG), David Kemp (Former Federal Minister), Kate Carnell (Former Chief Minister, ACT), Anne Tiernan (Griffith University) and SA’s Jim Birch and Sue Vardon, the event also featured international guests Michael Wintringham of New Zealand (former New Zealand State Services Commissioner and CE of the Minister of Housing NZ) and Professor Paul Thomas of Manitoba University, Winnipeg, Canada (also author of Canadian Public Administration). The following pages feature extracts from a report prepared by Richard Mulgan (Crawford School of Economics and Government, The Australian National University), and commissioned for the Roundtable, with a full report to be distributed to IPAA members shortly. On the issue of responsiveness and public service ethics… “…all representative democracies have grappled with the same problems of grafting legitimate democratic control on to rule-based administrative agencies. They are also facing the same array of new challenges to traditional conventions brought on by international trends such as the managerialist adoption of private sector employment practices, the growing influence of media management over all areas of government activity and increasing public availability of official information.” On the meaning of responsiveness… “Responsiveness in this context refers to the readiness of public servants to do what government minister want (though it can also be applied to other relationships, such as that of public servants and the community at large…). The concept itself is not altogether straightforward. First, there is the question of responsive to whom? A secretary, for instance, may be responsive either to the portfolio minister or to the prime minister.

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2008 off to a great start… With Easter over and Summer on its way out, it’s time to really kick into high gear. That was certainly the brief to the expert panel who contributed to the IPAA National Roundtable a few weeks back (see accompanying story on this page). And it has been echoed in the extensive round of events and workshops already held this year. We now look forward to a range of new initiatives, most importantly, our first international speaker event on 20 May, featuring acclaimed author and expert on innovation, Daniel Pink. If you haven’t booked your ticket, make sure you do so before 31 March in order to take advantage of the early bird discount. In other news… New Staff IPAA welcomes Helen Alm, Kate Bettison and Emma McKinnon to the team. Both Helen and Kate make up our Learning and Development Program team, while Emma joins our finance and membership team. Annual General Meeting and Members Networking Function IPAA SA Division Inc will hold its Annual General Meeting at 4pm on Wednesday 7 May. This will include a fantastic opportunity for Members to enjoy drinks and nibbles, view our new premises and network with other Members and IPAA Councillors. Nominations are also open for 3 Council positions. If you would like to become an IPAA SA Divisional Council Member, please contact Executive Director, Deb Dickson on 8212 7555, or download a nomination form from the IPAA web site at www.sa.ipaa.org.au/lnews.asp Don’t forget to register for the IPAA National Conference 2008. The program is out now at www.ipaa2008.org.au

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Striking a balance between independence & responsiveness cont…

On recent trends… “Ministers now have more minions to assist them in imposing their wishes on departments and in making public servants more responsive. “The public activities of both ministers and government agencies are now increasingly conducted through the filter of media publicity. Public servants are being sucked into the same game, under the expanding direction of the government’s media machine which insists that everyone must be ‘on song’. “Public servants are less able to confine their honest and politically embarrassing advice, including research findings, behind a protective wall of confidentiality. “…if we value the public service as not only the effective agent of the government of the day but also a guarantor of government propriety we must see that the necessary constitutional checks and balances are securely established.”

From “How Much Responsiveness is too much or too little?” by Richard Mulgan, Crawford School of Economics and Government, The Australian National University.

See the full report at www.sa.ipaa.org.au/lnews.asp

“Secondly, responsiveness does not necessarily involve acceding to explicit directions from ministers. As with any superior/subordinate relationship built on professionalism and trust, the subordinate will often anticipate the superior’s wishes without prompting. Experienced senior public servants are skilled in knowing what a minister will and will not want them to do and in acting accordingly. For responsiveness to occur, all that is needed is that public servants act in accordance with what they perceive to be the wishes of their political masters. Indeed, much, if not most, responsiveness takes place within departments without ministers being aware of it. “Ministers want many things, not all of them consistent. They want to win the next election but they also want to serve the long-term good of the country. They want to win the daily political contest in the media but they also want to avoid making any foolish commitments that may come back to haunt them. Being responsive may be a matter of looking past the minister’s immediate demands and recalling other wants temporarily eclipsed in the minister’s mind. On the principle of democratic legitimacy… “The principle of democratic legitimacy is sometimes expressed in terms of the elected government’s right to determine the public interest, at least in relation to the substance of government policy... The public interest is a contested concept, referring to a judgement of what is best for the people as a whole. Everyone has their own ideas about the public interest, not least public servants who often have quite decided views about the public good. Public servants are not expected to relinquish these views, still less to become moral and political eunuchs. But democratic values do require them to defer to the elected government’s view of the public interest in public policy when it conflicts with their own. “Contrary to some misconceptions, the tendering of ‘frank and fearless’ advice … is demanded by democratic responsiveness and is not necessarily in conflict with it. Good advice in any organisation always requires pointing out weaknesses and potential pitfalls in policy options proposed by the leadership as well as offering alternative options, even when such advice is unwelcome. “Though advice may run counter to the government’s immediate preferences or commitments, it should not present or assume alternative policy directions incompatible with the government’s values. Responsiveness does have its limits … but they should not be set by public servants’ own sense of the best policy direction for the country.

Invitation to Members to Contribute to Public Administration Today

Public Administration Today (PAT) is the professional journal of IPAA, which many members receive as part of their membership. Each quarter, PAT focuses on current issues in government and public management at the local, State and national levels. The national editorial committee aims to provide a forum for genuinely national perspectives and coverage of all levels of government and is particularly keen to see more material from practitioners and observers of the State and local scenes. Contributions can take many forms, including original articles on selected themes or other current issues, speeches from conferences, key working papers, comments on current events, etc.

For more information or to submit material, contact the South Australian Editor, Bruce Guerin on blcguerin@bigpond.com or phone 8272 9695.

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Women in Leadership – a new approach to meeting challenging targets The South Australian Strategic Plan sets forth a target of 50% of executive roles in the SA public sector to be filled by women by the year 2014. This may be considered an ambitious target given the current status of women in leadership positions both within the private sector and public sector. A recent article in the Harvard Business Review found that only 6% of senior executive positions in Fortune 500 companies were filled by women and only 2% of CEO roles in these companies were filled by women. The situation in ASX 200 companies is similar with only 2.5% of CEO roles being filled by women. The Women in the Public Sector Report (Dec 2006) found that only 30% of PSM Act Executives are women and there are also only a handful of women in CEO positions or “C suite” positions across the SA public sector. It is within this context that Locher Human Resources has partnered with the Leaders Institute of South Australia to develop and facilitate a High Impact Women in Leadership program. The program is an exciting combination of individual assessment, interactive seminars, mentoring, active learning, expert panels and group problem solving to support women who are in, or aspiring to, senior leadership positions. This eight-month program is a unique offering in the South Australian marketplace and will feature high profile guest speakers and facilitators from both the public and private sectors. The ability to connect and share with senior women from public, private and not for profit sectors is a strong benefit of this program. The inaugural program will commence on May 14th and 15th 2008 and there is already considerable interest. For more information visit the Locher website www.locher.com.au under Training Programs > High Impact – Women in Leadership or call Leanne Brus Bentley for additional information on 8201 1133. Danielle Jiranek (National Director Organisational Development, Locher) and Niki Vincent CE, (LISA) will facilitate the High Impact Women in Leadership program.

NEW … ANNOUNCING IPAA WORKFORCE PLANNING WORKSHOPS FOR HR PRACTITIONERS & MANAGERS Late in 2007 IPAA ran a sold-out event featuring the forthcoming Standards Australia ‘Guidelines on Workforce Planning’, to be officially launched in South Australia on the 8th April 2008. Following this launch, IPAA is proud to announce that it will run a practical workshop series on how to develop and implement a workforce plan, specifically for public sector HR professionals and managers charged with this task. For more details on dates and costs, or to register, please call Deb Dickson on 8212 7555.

Coaching Skills to Enhance Performance What images, thoughts or feelings come to mind when you hear the word “coach”? Is it the sight of the football coach giving his team an encouraging/motivating talk at half time at the game? Is it a feeling of satisfaction in developing a new skill though your relationship with another? Or is it the sound of being supported and led through something difficult or challenging? Coaching is all of this and more! Coaching is increasingly being recognised as an important skill for managers and team leaders to have in the public sector, as we increasingly move away from authoritarian models of leadership and move towards more collaboration, cooperation, empathy and creativity in our leading and managing of others. What differentiates coaching from on the job training is the emphasis on the relationship between the coach and the coachee, and the skills of quality, specific feedback. This involves really listening and the art of questioning to draw the knowledge from the coachee, rather than a one-way flow of telling and instructing or providing answers. IPAA’s new workshop “Coaching Skills to Enhance Performance”, facilitated by Helen Alm, IPAA’s new Learning and Development Manager, will give participants the opportunity to further develop these skills , explore four different coaching styles and how they can be applied to their own team members, and practice “solution focussed coaching”, using the simple, practical and highly effective coaching model “GROW”. We look forward to the opportunity to meet you at this enjoyable and practical program! Register now at www.sa.ipaa.org.au

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FOR THE DIARY

REGISTER NOW AT www.sa.ipaa.org.au

IPAA EVENTS

The Homestart Finance Speed Networking Event Featuring Lisa Fernandez from Nova FM Thursday 10 April 2008 5.00 pm registration for 5.30 pm start,7.30 pm finish Garage Bar, Light Sq, Adelaide Tickets from $51 for IPAA Members (inc GST)

Reforming Cabinet Office Featuring Tanya Smith, Megan Webster, Stephanie Page and Don Frater from the Cabinet Office Wednesday 16 April 2008 9.00 am registration for a 9.30 am start, 11.30 am finish The Sebel Playford, 120 North Terrace, Adelaide Tickets from $50 for IPAA Members (inc GST)

AN IPAA INTERNATIONAL PRESENTATION

FAST FORWARD: CAPTURING THE WORKPLACE INNOVATION OF TOMORROWFeaturing Dan Pink, author of “A Whole New Mind: Why Right Brainers Will Rule the Future” Tuesday 20 May 2008 8.15 am registration for a 9.00 am start, 12.30 pm finish The Hilton Hotel, Adelaide Tickets from $360 for IPAA Members (inc GST) EARLY BIRD SPECIAL: REGISTER BEFORE 31 MARCH AND GET 15% OFF

IPAA LEARNING & DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS Research Skills (NEW) Wednesday 9 April Business and Operational Planning (NEW) Thursday 17 April Coaching Skills to Enhance Performance (NEW) Wednesday 23 April Professional Project Sponsorship (NEW) Thursday 1 May

Did You Know… At IPAA, we pride ourselves on delivering relevant, public sector-specific learning interventions and we run cost-effective in-house programs tailored to your needs. Call Helen at IPAA on 8212 7555 to find out more.

IPAA Sponsors

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NEW MEMBERS Since January 2008, IPAA has welcomed the following new members: Sarah Alvino Amy Challans Jodie Christelow Scott Clouder Justin Cole Bev Gaughwin Edward Humeniuk Anne Liddell Nicola Lienert Henry Lukowicz Isabel Maurer Rondelle Oster Ronald Parry Nancy Penna Paul Sutton Rebecca Thomas Richard Wundke To enquire about your membership, please email IPAA at membership@sa.ipaa.org.au

2008 Premier’s Awards coming soon…

IPAA is proud to once again be associated with the Premier’s Awards, showcasing excellence in the public sector.

Nominations will be soon be open to all SA public sector agencies, public sector employees and statutory authorities for the 2008 Premier's Awards. If you have an initiative that has made a significant improvement to performance or service delivery in achieving South Australia's Strategic Plan targets, then you should nominate. Look out for Nomination Guidelines, available soon at www.premcab.sa.gov.au

18-20 June, Luna Park, Sydney PROGRAM OUT NOW

Visit www.ipaa2008.org.au

FOCAL POINT

Focal Point is published by the South Australian Division of the Institute of Public Administration Australia. The views in this publication are not necessarily those of IPAA SA, its Council or of the Editors.

IPAA SA Division Inc. Level 6, 12 Pirie St, Adelaide SA 5000 GPO Box 13, Adelaide SA 5001 Phone 8212 7555 Fax 8212 0155 Email enquiries@sa.ipaa.org.au

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