Reflecting on learning and development

ASSESSING THE IMPACT OF THE LEARNING AND ORGANISATIONAL DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY

In 2005 the OPSC's Organisational Maturity Matrix survey was used to provide baseline data on the effectiveness of systems by which learning is managed, the alignment of learning and development to business objectives, and the organisational culture and how it values and provides leadership around learning. Senior staff from the former departments of Communities and Disability Services Queensland answered the survey to provide a baseline assessment of learing and organisational development prior to the implementation of the Portfolio Learning and Organisational Development Strategy 2006-2011.

There are four main sectors that assess the current maturity level for learing and organisational development;

  1. Provide and cultivate leadership
  2. Support innovation
  3. Develop capability
  4. Foster continuous improvement

This survey provides a mechanism to document and reflect on the department's approach to learning and development. The survey uses the term ‘maturity’ which is an indicator of the degree to which learning and development is fully integrated within the planning and strategies of the organisation.

 

PROVIDE AND CULTIVATE LEADERSHIP

Elements of providing and cultivating leadership include:

Integrate learning and development as a component of organisational expenditure and link to workforce planning. Provide funding and resources for sustainable learning and development strategies. Promote an active commitment to learning and development. Build a sense of agency purpose and direction. Develop a culture of service that will build community and government respect for the integrity and capability of the state and staff. Provide strategic direction to the development of learning and development policies and procedures that will ensure organisational capacity for service delivery.

Against each question please provide an assessment of the level of 'maturity' you believe currently exists by clicking on a radio button.

 

PROVIDE AND CULTIVATE LEADERSHIP

Level 

Ad hoc

Practice is  or inconsistently or has an uncertain level of acceptance

Level 

Managed

Practice is performed and managed with some skill for compliance reasons

Level 

Defined

Practice is defined, familiar, shared and skilfully performed

Level 

Optimised

Practice is continuously improved and leveraged for organisational outcomes

The Chief Executive's commitment to the importance and relevance of learning and development is known and communicated to all staff

 

 

The importance and relevance of learning and development is articulated in all relevant organisational literature such as corporate plans, business plans and annual reports

 

 

The agency has a learning and development strategy in place

 

Learning and development processes are linked and integrated with other HR processes and systems e.g. workforce planning, recruitment and selection, performance management, succession planning and career development

 

Learning and development requirements are planned for in budget cycles and included in new budget initiatives

 

Managers are supported to develop the abilities of their staff effectively through training, coaching, mentoring and other tools and resources

The organisation sees learning as a legitimate part of work

The organisation sees itself as a 'learning organisation'.


 SUPPORT INNOVATION

Elements of supporting innovation include:

Encourage sharing of knowledge and the building of networks. Foster innovation and the generation of new knowledge. Develop and promote a culture that nurtures potential, talent and the power of creative professional relationships. Create and promote opportunities for multi agency, private sector and community partnerships.

 

SUPPORT INNOVATION

Level 

Ad hoc

Practice is  or inconsistently or has an uncertain level of acceptance

Level 

Managed

Practice is performed and managed with some skill for compliance reasons

Level 

Defined

Practice is defined, familiar, shared and skilfully performed

Level 

Optimised

Practice is , continuously improved and leveraged for organisational outcomes

Opportunities to collaborate and network internally and with other organisations to achieve greater financial economies and exchange are developed and taken.
Team based and individual work based opportunities to learn and improve are provided, encouraged and rewarded.
Marketing is a feature of all targeted programs and activities.

 

DEVELOP CAPABILITY

Elements of developing capability include:

Ensure whole of Government learning and development needs are met. Ensure organisational core business related learning and development needs are met. Provide equitable and accessible learning and development opportunities. Maximise learning options and match individual learning styles through appropriate learning pathways. Ensure systems and processes support learning and development strategies effectively.

DEVELOP CAPABILITY

Level 

Ad hoc

Practice is  or inconsistently or has an uncertain level of acceptance

Level 

Managed

Practice is performed and managed with some skill for compliance reasons

Level 

Defined

Practice is defined, familiar, shared and skilfully performed

Level 

Optimised

Practice is , continuously improved and leveraged for organisational outcomes

Organisational learning plans are linked with the Corporate and Strategic Plans.
Appropriate learning pathways, competency frameworks, professional frameworks and capability frameworks are determined and communicated to staff eg. National competency frameworks.  
Learning and development consists of an appropriate balance of New Apprenticeships, competency, professional education, and general learning activities.  
Current and future technical, nontechnical, professional and generic agency learning needs and activities are determined and communicated to staff.
Learning and Development nomination and selection procedures are simple and support merit and equal opportunity principles.

 


FOSTER CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT

Elements of fostering continuous improvement include:

Evaluate relevance and alignment of learning and development strategies to Government priorities and agency business directions. Report on implementation of the agency learning and development strategy. Ensure high quality learning and development opportunities, pathways and systems through monitoring, evaluation and improvement.

FOSTER CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT

Level 

Ad hoc

Practice is  or inconsistently or has an uncertain level of acceptance

Level 

Managed

Practice is performed and managed with some skill for compliance reasons

Level 

Defined

Practice is defined, familiar, shared and skilfully performed

Level 

Optimised

Practice is , continuously improved and leveraged for organisational outcomes

Effectiveness of formal learning and development is tracked and reported.
Determination of current and future learning needs is carried out as part of performance management and workforce planning activities.
Learning and Development activities and metrics are recorded, analysed and reported on.  
The Executive team periodically reviews the available data on learning and development and provides appropriate direction.
Learning design for key programs or activities are evaluated for their appropriateness to the organisational context, culture, infrastructure and systems and redesigned if necessary prior to commencement or implementation.


INFORMATION FOR COMPARING RESULTS

The information provided in this section will be used to assist in drawing more meaningful conclusions from the survey results. Your responses will remain strictly confidential and results will only be reported at a collective level so that individual responses cannot be identified.

 

What is your classification level? SES  SO
Do you manage staff that work in a rural remote location? Yes   No

 

Which service stream do you work in?

Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Partnerships Child Safety Services Community and Youth Justice Services
Corporate and Executive Services Disability Services Housing and Homelessness Services
Multicultural Affairs Office of Women Sport and Recreation Services
Strategic Policy    

 

What type of work are you involved in?

Corporate support Policy development Program delivery
Service Delivery    


 

Do you have staff that work non core hours? Yes   No

 


How long have you worked for the Department continuously?

Less than a year 1  to 3 years  4 to 5 years
 6 to 10  years  11  to  20  years More than 20  years

 


How long have you been in your current role continuously?

Less than a year 1  to 3 years 4 to 5 years
6 to 10  years 11  to  20  years More than 20  years

  

General Comments

Acknowledgements: Development of this survey is informed by similar work undertaken by the Government of the Australian Capital Territory and the Australian Public Service.

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