❓ A WA parliamentary question on notice addresses concerns raised by the CPSU/CSA regarding a restructure at the Great Southern Institute of Technology (GSIT), focusing on staff understanding of roles, strategic direction, and morale. The Minister denies a failure and outlines actions taken, including reviews and upcoming staff surveys.
AnsweredQoN 4523Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the correspondence of 2 June and 28 July 2011 to the Minister from the Community and Public Sector Union, Civil Service Association (CPSU/CSA) in relation to administrative and lecturing staff within the Great Southern Institute of Technology (GSIT). I also refer to the GSIT’s 2010 Annual Report, in which mention is made of the 2010 restructure essentially resulting in the establishment of a smaller executive made up of the Managing Director and three Directors heading the Divisions of Training Services, Student Services and Corporate Services, and I ask -
(1) Will the Minister investigate why there appears to be such a failure with this restructure, given that such a large percentage of members surveyed, indicated that they do not understand their roles and responsibilities and in particular stating that confusion has occurred since the restructure?
(2) If no to (1), why not?
(3) As such a low number of members surveyed (only 41 percent) agreed that they understood the institute’s strategic direction, what action will the Minister be taking to ensure this situation is rectified?
(4) Does the Minister agree that the situation at GSIT is very much a cause for concern, given that over 80 percent of those surveyed feel that morale is low?
(1) Will the Minister investigate why there appears to be such a failure with this restructure, given that such a large percentage of members surveyed, indicated that they do not understand their roles and responsibilities and in particular stating that confusion has occurred since the restructure?
(2) If no to (1), why not?
(3) As such a low number of members surveyed (only 41 percent) agreed that they understood the institute’s strategic direction, what action will the Minister be taking to ensure this situation is rectified?
(4) Does the Minister agree that the situation at GSIT is very much a cause for concern, given that over 80 percent of those surveyed feel that morale is low?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
20 September 2011
Responded by
Minister for Training and Workforce Development
Response time
35 days
(1) No
(2) A consultant was employed to independently seek the views of management and support staff to identify the issues being raised regarding the work volume of Training Directors and their support staff.
The management team made recommendations to the consultant requesting a more focused approach to Training Services, Corporate Services and Student Services, a more balanced management of Portfolio Management and consequential support staff. This restructure was then endorsed by the Institute Governing Council as having merit as the Institute had increased its delivery profile from 865,000 student contact hours to over 1.4 million student contact hours (including commercial delivery).
The new Directors were then tasked to work with their staff to ensure that new and updated JDFs were agreed. It was also agreed that a review of each directorate would be held within 12 months of operation. These reviews are currently in operation with two remaining. All issues of concern have been addressed where administratively possible.
In relation to the assertion that the restructure appears to be a failure as people indicated that they do not understand their roles and responsibilities; following the restructure the Institute agreed to a special Joint Consultative Committee meeting to address concerns. At this meeting, the Institute agreed to a set of protocols for dealing with issues and uncertainties concerning roles and responsibilities emanating from the restructure. This agreement has been adhered to and the few cases that have come forward have been dealt with in accordance with agreed protocols.
(3) The question assumes that the survey conducted, written and confined to union members was representative of all Institute staff. The statistics show a different picture; 51 members of the total head count at the Institute of 318.
The Institute will be conducting a whole of staff Opinion Survey in September, an undertaking given to the Institute's Joint Consultative Committee. This survey will be managed by an outside consultant to ensure confidentiality of responses. All issues will be addressed by management. Any future action taken by the Institute's Executive will be informed by the outcomes of this survey. The survey results and management responses will be made available to all parties.
(4) No. Please refer to the response given to question 2.
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(2) A consultant was employed to independently seek the views of management and support staff to identify the issues being raised regarding the work volume of Training Directors and their support staff.
The management team made recommendations to the consultant requesting a more focused approach to Training Services, Corporate Services and Student Services, a more balanced management of Portfolio Management and consequential support staff. This restructure was then endorsed by the Institute Governing Council as having merit as the Institute had increased its delivery profile from 865,000 student contact hours to over 1.4 million student contact hours (including commercial delivery).
The new Directors were then tasked to work with their staff to ensure that new and updated JDFs were agreed. It was also agreed that a review of each directorate would be held within 12 months of operation. These reviews are currently in operation with two remaining. All issues of concern have been addressed where administratively possible.
In relation to the assertion that the restructure appears to be a failure as people indicated that they do not understand their roles and responsibilities; following the restructure the Institute agreed to a special Joint Consultative Committee meeting to address concerns. At this meeting, the Institute agreed to a set of protocols for dealing with issues and uncertainties concerning roles and responsibilities emanating from the restructure. This agreement has been adhered to and the few cases that have come forward have been dealt with in accordance with agreed protocols.
(3) The question assumes that the survey conducted, written and confined to union members was representative of all Institute staff. The statistics show a different picture; 51 members of the total head count at the Institute of 318.
The Institute will be conducting a whole of staff Opinion Survey in September, an undertaking given to the Institute's Joint Consultative Committee. This survey will be managed by an outside consultant to ensure confidentiality of responses. All issues will be addressed by management. Any future action taken by the Institute's Executive will be informed by the outcomes of this survey. The survey results and management responses will be made available to all parties.
(4) No. Please refer to the response given to question 2.
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
http://www.rtlib.com
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