The Deputy Governor’s Office received 71 cost-savings ideas as part of its Efficiency, Innovate and Save Competition and will announce the winners soon, according to Government Information Services.
Deputy Governor Inez Archibald said she was pleased with the level of ideas received.
“It is good to see that both the public and private sectors had remarkable ideas on ways to improve cost in the public service,” Ms. Archibald told the Department of Information and Public Relations, adding, “We started this initiative as a result of the economic climate to look for ways to make the public service stronger, more efficient and innovative while reducing operating costs, and both sectors approached the initiative with dedication.”
After the ideas were received, “an assessment committee picked the top nine ideas, and the heads of departments voted on their top three from each sector,” DGO Permanent Secretary David Archer said last month.
Public input
After that, the ideas were posted on news websites to gather public input, according to Aisha Hill, a DGO information officer. Now that input has been gathered, winners will be announced as early as next week, Ms. Hill said.
According to GIS, the assessment team reviewed all 71 submissions received and judged them based on several questions:
• “Did the idea improve the quality of service of the end product?
• Did the idea simplify a process to reduce administrative burden?
• Did the idea utilise technology as part of the solution?
• Did the idea have a real impact on clients’ lives or the environment?
• Was there a clear plan for implementing the idea?
• Would the idea improve the speed of government’s operations to improve efficiency?
• Did the idea generate potential savings?
• Was the idea original?”
The competition, part of the DGO’s 2011 work plan, was officially launched last January.