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The Productivity Council’s week of excellence attracted a wide cross section of government and private sector officials.

A Government Minister has challenged managers to master the art and science of management as the impetus to creating a harmonious and productive working environment.

Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs, Christopher Sinckler, made this observation yesterday, while addressing the opening ceremony of the Productivity Council’s Week of Excellence programme.?? It was held at the Grande Salle, Central Bank of Barbados, Tom Adams Financial Centre.

He added that management was too critical a function to be left to chance and called for enhanced managerial training in the public and private sectors, in order to meet organisational targets.

"Unless managers in the public and private sectors are properly trained and drawn from a blending of experience to innovatively apply the tools made available to them, then both companies and departments in government will struggle to fulfill their capacity and to reach their potential," Mr. Sinckler added.

The Finance Minister further stated: "We simply need to manage but there is also a need to humanise the art of management.?? Simply put, managers must ensure that they have the full cooperation of their entire team and that each individual is fully engaged in the process of reaching performance targets that are set by an organisation or department.?? Far too much is reported about the short comings in this particular regard on the factory floor or in the government department, and I am, therefore, urging all to get the art as well as the science of management balanced within the workplace," he emphasised.

Mr. Sinckler also lamented the absence of an organisational plan within departments to guide their future direction and disclosed how government had to improve its operations by tightening its budgetary reporting.

"…[It was essential to ensure] that each department across the government system report on a quarterly basis on their performance budgeting targets.?? Thus, government is duty bound therefore, to demonstrate the utmost prudence in the conduct of the country’s affairs and in particular, in its financial appropriations.?? But, we need to see more structural planning that reflects the objectives for each ministry…," he outlined.

Mr. Sinckler credited the Productivity Council for its work in training, providing strategic technical assistance to the private sector and its organisations locally and extra regionally.

He noted that the Council’s performance measurement systems were achieving the desired results through interventions in performance management re-engineering; and evaluating measurement standards to gauge departmental performance in line with company goals.?? Mr. Sinckler also added that they improved departmental performance through continuous assessment of performance versus established standards.

The Productivity Council’s week of excellence programme under the theme: Engagement, Empowerment and Effective Results: Getting Employees & Employers to Deliver Excellent Customer Care, continues tomorrow, Wednesday, February 23.??

During a session to be held at the Barbados Workers Union Labour College, Mangrove, St. Philip, the Council’s Senior Training Officer, Shawn Callender, will deliver a presentation entitled: Motivating Teams Towards Achieving Excellent Results, at 8:45 a.m.?? This will be followed by a workshop focusing on timeliness, attendance and core values and their impact on worker productivity.??

It will be the turn of the schools on Thursday, February 24, when a session for students will be held at the Christ Church Foundation School, Church Hill, Christ Church.?? Facilitators for the event will be Client Services Advisor, Customer Service at the National Initiative for Service Excellence (NISE), Tracey Austin and entertainer Mr. Dale.?? It will get under way at 10:15 a.m.

On the same day, there will be two sessions for principals.?? The first on Negotiating Skills will be presented by Deputy General Secretary of the BWU, Robert "Bobby" Morris.?? The Second presentation on Protocol V will be delivered by Patrick Frost.?? Both sessions will be convened at Queen’s College, Husbands, St. James, starting at 9:00 a.m.

??The activities will culminate in Bridgetown on Saturday, February 26, with a Taking Service Excellence to the Streets rally from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Representatives from a number of agencies such as the Office of Public Sector Reform, NISE, the Congress of Trade Unions and Staff Associations and the Barbados Employers’ Confederation, will distribute memorabilia to busy shoppers in Broad Street, Roebuck Street, High Street and Fairchild Street.????

jwilson@barbados.gov.bb

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