Work Performance In The Public Service.....MBO-2

Here we go again. In the latest government attempt to bring some sort of accountability for employee performance, the government has dusted off the previously used approach of the decades old “management by objectives”. While I applaud Treasury Board President Tony Clement for his eagerness in trying to improve performance measurement, as the concept of “MBO” seems to have lost its usefulness within many sectors of government, why would this updated version be any different? Many managers are already inundated with paperwork and this latest attempt at reform will likely add to that burden. Unless this current version of MBO gives managers the required authorities to address issues in an expedient manner and without being forced into a prolongated exercise in completing paper-intensive records, future governments could be back to the drawing board. The government will need more than ‘good luck’ to keep this ship in navigable waters. Even though I wish them well, past experience tends to make me think that I do not share their sense of optimism.