...efficiently and effectively adopt a whole of government approach to managing processes, policy and program development and service delivery.
ANAO Better Practice Guides
ANAO Better Practice Guides (BPGs) aim to improve public administration by providing a mechanism whereby better practices employed in agencies are recognised and promulgated to all Australian Government entities. This can involve examining practices in the public or private sectors in Australia or overseas. ANAO’s emphasis is to identify, assess and articulate good practice from the Agency’s knowledge and understanding of the public sector, as well as areas where improvements are warranted.
http://www.anao.gov.au/director/publications/betterpracguides.cfm
Australian Public Service Commission Building Capability
The Australian Public Service Commission provides agencies with tools, guidance and resources to work more effectively. Resources provided include HR capability modelling, recruitment kits, management resources and leadership frameworks and systems.
http://www.apsc.gov.au/buildingcapability/index.html
Better Practice Centre @ AGIMO
The AGIMO Better Practice Program facilitates information sharing and improved access to government information and services through a range of e-Government initiatives in collaboration with Australian Government agencies. It includes better practice guides on Internet/e-Government related processes and host contributions from government agencies. The aim is to promote excellence in e-Government.
http://www.agimo.gov.au/practice
Better practice guide on governance arrangements in government
The aim of this guide is to promote consistency in governance arrangements of Australian Government bodies, while reinforcing the principles set out in the
Review of Corporate Governance of Statutory Authorities and Office Holders. This is in line with the Department of Finance and Administration’s ongoing role of promoting better practice governance of Australian Government bodies generally. The policies set out in the document provide a strong platform for informed discussion when officials consult with, or seek advice from, central agencies on the merits of alternative structures for Australian Government bodies.
http://www.finance.gov.au/FinFramework/docs/FMR2.pdf
Business Cost Calculator
Business Cost Calculator is administered by the Office of Best Practice Regulation (OBPR, formerly the Office of Regulation Review). It is a tool for estimating the compliance costs of regulation. It provides an automated and standard process for quantifying compliance costs of regulation on business, using an activity-based costing methodology.
http://www.obpr.gov.au/businesscostcalculator
Cabinet Implementation Unit
The Cabinet Implementation Unit helps departments and agencies improve the way they develop and implement the Australian Government’s decisions, and how they report on the measures being implemented. The Unit’s website provides practical information to help public servants and those who work with them on the implementation of projects and the management of programs, and the implementation and delivery of initiatives and ongoing programs. Specific areas where the Unit can help include preparing new policy proposals, developing implementation plans for new measures or programs and support for better project and program management.
http://www.pmc.gov.au/implementation/index.cfm
Delivering Australian Government Services: Access and Distribution Strategy
The Access and Distribution Strategy sets out a high-level framework that promotes an environment in which agencies are able to integrate and share services and information across a range of channels. To achieve this aim, the Strategy advocates that agencies build whole of government capacity, develop technical and information interoperability, and take a strategic approach to the use of service delivery channels.
http://www.agimo.gov.au/publications/2006/may/ads
Delivering Australian Government Services: Managing Multiple Channels
Managing Multiple Channels recognises that Australian Government agencies deliver services to customers/citizens through a variety of channels (shop fronts, call centres, websites, etc) and outlines a process for aligning customer needs, services and channel provision.
http://www.agimo.gov.au/publications/2006/may/mmc
Finance and Budget process advice
The Financial Framework output develops and maintains the financial regulatory framework for the general government sector, focusing on effective financial governance, financial management and accountability. The Budget Advice output supports Australian Government agencies through advice on the outcomes and outputs framework and performance management system.
http://www.finance.gov.au/GF/
ICT Business Case Guidance
Rigorous business case planning ensures that ICT investment across government is well planned and managed. Robust business cases reduce the risk of time and cost overruns and of projects not achieving anticipated benefits. Better business cases strengthen the quality of strategic alignment, project planning, financial estimates, and cost benefit and options analysis. The ICT Business Case Guide and Tools helps agencies to develop business cases with comprehensive cost benefit analysis and more detailed project planning. Agencies trialing the ICT Business Case Guide and Tools over the past year report that benefits include the development of a common language around investment and business planning.
http://www.agimo.gov.au/government/the_ict_investment_framework/business_case_tools_and_review
Implementing machinery of government changes
Guide to implementing machinery of government changes provides practical guidance to help agencies implement changes. It relates primarily to moves between Australian Public Service (APS) agencies, subject to the
Public Service Act 1999 and the Financial Management and Accountability Act 1997, but may also provide useful guidance for moves into, or out of, the APS. The Guide provides an overview of the MoG process, principles and approaches for planning and implementing MoG changes, guidance on financial management and people management and advice on managing physical relocations, records and taxation.
http://www.finance.gov.au/FinFramework/machinery_of_government_change.html
Outcomes and Outputs Framework
The outcomes and output framework of the Department of Finance and Administration provides guidance to departments and agencies for structuring corporate governance and management arrangements and for reporting on planned and actual performance.
http://www.finance.gov.au/budgetgroup/commonwealth%5Fbudget%5F%2D%5Foverview/the%5Foutcomes%5F%5F%5Foutputs%5Fframewo.html
Reducing Red Tape in the APS
This report focuses on internal and the whole of government regulatory and administrative requirements of the Australian Government. It sets out a principles-based framework for the review of existing requirements and for the scrutiny of proposals for new requirements, with a view to reducing red tape. The report begins with an overview of the framework for design and review of requirements and a discussion of the main elements of the process.
http://www.apsc.gov.au/mac/redtape.htm
Source IT
This is a site for Australian Government agencies that are dealing with Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sourcing issues.
http://www.sourceit.gov.au/sourceit
2006 e-Government Strategy
The Australian Government released the first version of e-Government strategy,
Better Services, Better Government in 2002. Since then, much has been done to achieve the vision outlined in that document and there is no doubt that Australians now have ‘better services’ and ‘better government’. The 2005-06 e-Government strategy, Responsive Government: A New Service Agenda, builds on the momentum and achievements of the first strategy, taking into account lessons learned to deliver an even more coordinated and citizen-driven focus to the government’s e-Government initiatives. It is about strategically applying ICT to improve and reform government processes. The strategy recognises the devolved nature of the Australian Government and the importance of supporting cooperation and sharing to realise the potential of e-Government.
http://www.agimo.gov.au/publications/2006/march/introduction_to_responsive_government
The Australian Government Architecture
The Australian Government Architecture (AGA) aims to assist in the delivery of more consistent and cohesive service to citizens and to support the more cost-effective delivery of ICT services by government, providing a framework that:
• provides a common language for agencies involved in the delivery of cross-agency services
• supports the identification of duplicate, re-usable and sharable services
• provides a basis for the objective review of ICT investment by government
• enables more cost-effective and timely delivery of ICT services through a repository of standards, principles and templates which assist in the design and delivery of ICT capability and, in turn, business services to citizens.
http://www.agimo.gov.au/government/australian_government_architecture
Australian Government Information Interoperability Framework
The Framework provides practical guidance for achieving the successful transfer of information across agency boundaries. The Information Interoperability Framework aims to assist agencies to improve their capacity for information management in support of information exchange.
http://www.agimo.gov.au/publications/2006/may/iif
Australian Government Technical Interoperability Framework
The Australian Government Technical Interoperability Framework was developed by the Interoperability Framework Working Group (IFWG), a reference group of senior technical architects nominated by the Chief Information Officers’ Committee (CIOC) and supported by AGIMO. The latest version of the Framework responds to developments in the ICT industry supporting business and government interconnectivity. The Framework specifies a conceptual model and agreed technical standards which support collaboration between Australian Government agencies. Adopting common technical protocols and standards will ensure government ICT systems interoperate in a trusted way with partners from industry and other governments. Interoperability will improve efficiency, reduce costs to business and government and will support agencies’ capacity to respond to public policy developments.
http://www.agimo.gov.au/publications/2005/04/agtifv2#Australian20Technical20Framework
Connected Government: Agencies Working Together
This good practice guide is derived from the MAC Report:
Connecting Government: Whole of Government Responses to Australia’s Priority Challenges, Good Practice Guides and gives practical advice on working whole of government. This information can be used to work through whole of government projects from determining how to structure a group working across departments to managing emergency responses. It will also be useful for those already working on whole of government initiatives.
http://www.connected.gov.au/good_practice_guide
GovDex
GovDex is a resource developed by government agencies to facilitate business process collaboration across policy portfolios, such as Taxation or Human Services, and across administrative jurisdictions. GovDex promotes effective and efficient information sharing, which is core to achieving collaboration. It provides governance, tools, methods and re-usable technical components which government agencies can use to assemble and deploy information services on their different technology platforms. GovDex is a key enabler to a whole of government approach to IT service development and deployment.
https://www.govdex.gov.au/user/index.do
Guidelines for Establishing and Facilitating Communities of Practice
A community of practice is a group of peers with a common sense of purpose who agree to work together to share information, build knowledge, develop expertise and solve problems. Communities of practice are characterised by the willing participation of members and their ongoing interaction in developing a chosen area of practice. These guidelines provide tips on establishing and facilitating communities of practice.
http://www.agimo.gov.au/resources/cop/guidelines
The National Service Improvement Framework
The National Service Improvement Framework (NSIF) provides a series of re-usable documents, tools and templates to facilitate collaboration between government agencies. The National Service Improvement Framework aims to facilitate projects requiring collaboration within and between governments at all levels.
The National Service Improvement Framework website provides a knowledge base that will assist Local, State/Territory and Australian Government departments and agencies in the effective implementation of cross-jurisdictional projects. The key objectives of the National Service Improvement Framework are:
• to increase citizen satisfaction in dealing with government
• to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of government
• to build the capacity for cross-jurisdictional collaboration.
http://www.nsif.gov.au/
Working Together: Principles and Practices to Guide the Australian Public Service
The Management Advisory Committee has produced a best practice checklist based on the report,
Connecting Government. The aim of the Guide is to assist agencies to achieve effective outcomes from work conducted jointly. It provides collaborating agencies with a checklist of responsibilities.
http://www.apsc.gov.au/mac/workingguide.htm