Executive Summary
Background
This is the second annual administrative and support (A&S) service benchmarking report for the New Zealand (NZ) State sector. In December 2010,Cabinet directed selected larger agencies to undertake an annual A&S service benchmarking exercise.[1] Measurement agencies are a mix of larger departments and Crown Entities. The first report was published in April 2011. This second report has the same metrics as the first (with limited exceptions) to enable time series analysis.
Findings are based on data from two reporting periods (Financial Years 2009/10 and 2010/11), and results cover six A&S service functions across 31 agencies. Functions include Human Resources (HR); Finance; Information and Communications Technology (ICT); Procurement; Property Management; and Corporate and Executive Services (CES).
This report responds to Government demands for better, smarter public services for less. The current economic climate drives the Government's focus on delivering services more efficiently and effectively and redirecting resources from A&S services to higher priorities, including services to the public, where possible. The performance information in this report helps agencies better understand the cost and quality of their internal services and make sound resource allocation decisions.
This report also responds to Government demands for stronger performance management practices in the State sector. Performance management involves using performance information to agree to targets; allocate and prioritise resources; and track, report, and learn from success. Performance information also identifies top performers and opportunities to share knowledge and practices. Performance management is desirable in any economic climate and is applicable to both A&S services and services to the public.
Notes
- [1]The Treasury, Better Administrative and Support Services Programme: Report on Phase One findings and proposal for Phase Two, Wellington CAB Minute (10) 38/4B directed departments with more than 250 FTEs to submit performance data to the Treasury each year.
