RSS FeedMerry Christmas to all VPSCIN members
Posted by VPSCIN COORDINATION 22 December 2009We’ve been through some big changes in 2009 and we thank you for continuing to participate in our scheduled activities. In the New Year, we aim to unveil a new direction for VPSCIN, while continuing to offer events and development opportunities to members.
Have an enjoyable Christmas time, a chance to put your feet up and spent time with those who are important to you. We hope to see you all refreshed and re-energised in 2010.
Welcome to Government
Posted by VPSCIN COORDINATION 17 November 2009The State Services Authority has recently published a book that may be of interest to VPSCIN members.
Welcome to Government is an introduction to working in the Victorian public sector.
It explains:
- The system of government in Australia and Victoria
- The role of the Victorian Parliament, Executive and Judiciary
- Victoria’s finances and accountability mechanisms, and
- Employment in the Victorian public sector.
The books are $3 each.
For more information, contact June Wibberley at the SSA (June.Wibberley@ssa.vic.gov.au)
Launch of VPS Innovation Action Plan
Posted by VPSCIN COORDINATION 11 November 2009A new Innovation Action Plan has been released for the VPS. Endorsed by Departmental Secretaries and the Chief Commissioner of Victoria Police, the Plan is about creating the connections and developing the skills and culture that will support innovation in the VPS.
The Plan has four action areas:
• Creating connections between people, ideas and opportunities
• Building innovation capability
• Generating ideas and rewarding good practice
• Sharing information and data.
There are 11 initiatives in the Plan including: VPS Hub – a new web 2.0 platform that will provide the online space for collaboration across the VPS; secondments to the private and community sectors to work on innovation challenges; an innovation tool box with practical innovation resources; and innovation awards to recognise innovation achievement in the VPS.
The Plan is only the first step in making sure innovation is supported throughout the VPS. It builds on existing innovation efforts in Departments and your ideas. A team in DPC is responsible for implementing the Plan and will work closely with communities and networks such as VPSCIN, the Innovation and Improvement Community of Practice, and the Court Innovators Networks. Members of these communities will have a special opportunity to be part of the beta testing of VPS Hub in December.
Check out the Plan (link below) and for further information, email: innovationplan@dpc.vic.gov.au
Link to the plan: Innovation Action Plan
Nancy White Master Class with the Knowledge Management Roundtable
Posted by VPSCIN COORDINATION 8 November 2009VPSCIN has been invited to participate in an upcoming Knowledge Management Roundtable event featuring Nancy White.
Twenty VPSCIN members will be able to attend the event on Monday 16 November 2009 from 2–5 pm at Level 16/570 Bourke Street, Melbourne (Land Victoria).
Nancy White, will deliver a Master Class on Digital Habitats: stewarding technology for communities.
Nancy is an international practitioner in understanding and practicing online group facilitation of distributed work, learning and community groups (presenter, writer, teacher, coach, facilitator, rapporteur). She is also a technology steward, designer and builder of online interaction spaces (events, teams, learning groups). She has done extensive work with “web 2.0” tools and approaches and community and instructional design.
Recently Nancy, Etienne Wenger, and John D. Smith released their new book Digital Habitats: stewarding technology for communities. This book explores how technology has changed, what it means for communities to “be together.” It looks at the fact that digital tools are now part of most communities’ habitats. This book develops a new literacy and language to describe the practice of stewarding technology for communities.
To register for the event, simply be one of the first 20 VPSCIN members to email Helen Moreland (helen.moreland@transport.vic.gov.au).
VPSCIN update from Jim Betts
Posted by Coordinator 16 October 2009Hi everyone
As you will be aware, the position of Chair of the VPSCIN has transferred from Christine Nixon to me. Accordingly, custodianship of the VPSCIN has transferred from Victoria Police to the Department of Transport (DOT).
Please be advised that while the VPSCIN has moved over to DOT, Frank Connolly has elected to stay at Victoria Police.
I have asked Helen Moreland (Manager, Organisational Improvement at DOT) to temporarily look after the VPSCIN on my behalf until next steps for the network, particularly the coordinator role, can be determined.
Please keep an eye on this space for more information about these changes. I expect there to be no disruptions to the VPSCIN events schedule as a result of these changes.
I wish Frank all the best for the future and on behalf of the VPSCIN, thank him for all the good work he has done as coordinator. I am sure you will all join me in wishing him well.
If you have any comments or questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me or Helen Moreland.
Regards
Jim
Mental Floss (Final)
Posted by Coordinator 5 September 2009
Congratulations to Andrew Caulfield of Victoria Police who responded with: They are among the most common sources of deadly bacteria. This week’s question is:
In what team is harmony achieved as a result of extreme tension?
The first CIN member in with the correct answer will receive a copy of I am an Idea Factory by Ed Bernacki.
“Waltzing with the Elephant” by Mark Toomey
Posted by Coordinator 4 September 2009 
Waltzing with the Elephant! This evocative phrase is the title of the first book that I have seen that explains what IT governance is, why it matters, who is responsible and how you can pragmatically implement appropriate Technology for Information Technology governance. The book, by Mark Toomey of Infonomics is refreshingly free from jargon and is directly applicable and valuable to any organisation that uses or is impacted by information technology whether they are multi-national companies with hundreds of thousands of staff, government departments, small businesses, or community groups staffed by a few committed volunteers.
The author successfully communicates his extensive experience in assisting companies in understanding and implementing IT governance and has provided a very usable and valuable resource for understanding and implementing effective IT governance.
The book is based on and expends on the recent ISO/IEC 38500 standard on Corporate Governance of Information Technology. The book is organised into four main sections. The first section puts IT governance into context and very clearly explains the importance of such governance and that it is the responsibility of the business. The second explains ISO/IEC 38500, the background and key drivers for the standard, and the management and control model that underpins the standard. The third section then proposes, justifies and illustrates the real life applicability of an integrated system for governance and management of IT.
The fourth, and final section, takes each major principle of ISO/IEC 38500, explains the business reasons and importance of the principle, provides realistic guidance as to how to implement it, and also how to both communicate the importance of the principles and how to monitor compliance with any organisations adoption of the principle.
A feature of the book is the extensive use of real examples from organisations of many different sizes from across the world. As well as examples, Mark presents many scenarios to shed light on important areas of IT governance and both the examples and similar scenarios are presented in a clear style with even familiar ones shown in a new and insightful manner. As well as the examples and scenarios there are numerous diagrams and models illustrating and effectively communicating the key concepts. The overall tone is clear, supportive, thoroughly pragmatic, grounded in reality. The book is available in two forms, (1) watermarked PDF, and (2) hard copy. I recommend the book to anyone who has to understand, manage, govern, and direct information technology.
Review provided by Keith Frampton, Senior Research Associate at RMIT University
To win one of three copies of Waltzing with the Elephant, use the comments function below to answer the following question: What is the principal purpose of information technology in a government department or agency?
“Working with Monsters” by Dr John Clarke
Posted by Coordinator 1 September 2009
Working with Monsters is an interesting read from Dr John Clarke, a consultant psychological profiler for the NSW police in criminal matters, and with corporations who are experiencing difficulties with an employee. The book provides many examples of “organisational psychopaths”(OP), who in holding positions of influence have betrayed trust, lost their organisation reputation and dollars and harmed the very people they had been charged with protecting.
When we think of the word psychopath we tend to think of the criminally violent variety, however the majority tend to be those who harm their victims via non-violent means. According to Clarke “an exclusive focus on violent criminals as psychopaths perpetuates a misleading belief… In reality, the non-violent psychopath can be just as devastating, and they are far more common. ” Many do not recognise OPs in the workplace for what they are until it is too late. Unfortunately this is no help to those who have come into contact with them.
Many are big on talking and are able to reach senior positions with the help of today’s uncertain and constantly changing corporate climate. They are smooth talkers, more prone to talk than action and generally fast and loose with the truth. They will normally cover up their deception with a strategy of rapidly moving from one topic to another to create confusion and give the impression of wide ranging knowledge. The OP is generally concerned with their own well being or those who are closely aligned with themselves and their advancement. They tend not to have any remorse for any damage inflicted on others because they do not have the ability to empathise with others.
Describing one case study involving a classic example of an OP, Dr Clarke says they were “Operating at a very high level in a successful company, they exuded an almost indefinable, venomous feeling of menace, camouflaged beneath a deceptively smooth , but entirely artificial veneer of sophisticated charm. What concerned me the most was the expression in the eyes rarely changed, it remained devoid of the quality that makes us fully human – emotion.”
Dr Clarke goes on the describe what constitutes a OP, their types of behaviours, how they are detected, how they conceal themselves, how they process information in manners different from others and some strategies in dealing with them.
I am an Idea Factory Workshop
Posted by Coordinator 31 August 2009
“The need to develop our capacity to innovate in the public sector is the key to meeting challenges of the future.”
The VPSCIN invites members to attend a special session with Innovation expert Ed Bernacki who is currently touring this part of the world.
Ed has observed that while working inside a Government department that many great ideas already exist but they lack the basic processes and tools to regularly harness and use these ideas. this has lead to the development of the Idea Factory concept. In this half day session you will learn the basics of becoming an innovationalist, a specialist who can lead innovation by turning your workplace into an idea factory.
The programme will be based on four elements:
- Opportunity - shaping the opportunity to innovate through leadership & direction
- Motive - focusing on creating a climate open to innovative thinking
- People - enhancing participants skills to innovate
- People - engaging the full cognitive diversity of people in the organisation
This will be most useful for people looking for new ideas for developing and managing innovation programs in a service context.
When: Tuesday Sept 29, 8:30am – 12:30pm
Where: Airlie Leadership Development Centre, 260 Domian Rd Sth Yarra (take the no 8 tram from Flinders St)
lunch will be provided
To RSVP for this session (once you have fully confirmed your availability) Click Here.
Business Excellence Study Tour 2009
Posted by Coordinator 31 August 2009
Benchmarking Partnerships in conjunction with SAI Global is offering VPSCIN members the opportunity for you to join in to learn and network with ALL of the 2009 Australian Business Excellence Award winning organisations in an exciting 4 day Study Tour program, fully co-ordinated and facilitated to optimize your learning experience in this special event from 12th-15th October 2009
Day 1(Mon 12th)- SYDNEY with Summit Care Australia hosting in the morning and Schindler Lifts hosting the afternoon. Participants staying on, then fly to Melbourne late afternoon.
Day 2(Tues 13th ) – MELBOURNE with Computershare hosting the day. Mildura Rural City Council to present in Melbourne. Participants staying on, then fly to Adelaide late afternoon.
Day 3(Wed 14th) – ADELAIDE with Dept of Families & Communities hosting the day, ABM Electronic Engineering & Qld Dept of Main Roads- Engineering & Technology to present in Adelaide. Participants staying on, then fly to Perth late afternoon.
Day 4(Thur 15th) – PERTH with City of Melville hosting the morning and Downer EDI Works hosting the afternoon. Includes ‘action planning’ before tour close and depart to airport.
Seats will be limited so if you are interested you can review the full programme via the Benchmarking Partnerships website or contact anton@benchmarkingpartnerships.com.au
Social Media in Government Conference – Sept 11
Posted by Coordinator 31 August 2009
A half day conference at the National press Club In Canberra designed to show how Governments can engage safely and strategically with Social Media.
Conference speakers will include Senator Kate Lundy speaking on empowering and engaging with citizens and sessions will also cover topics such as:
- Why social media matters to Government
- How Govt Agengies can engage safely and strategically
- The business case for social media
- How to develop a social media engagement strategy
- ROI: What are the measurement options?
- How to monitor social media using free and paid service
- The 10 best practice tools for social media
- The best use of blogs and micro-blogging (Twitter)
Full details and how to register are in the brochure attached: Social Media in Government.pdf
Mental Floss (146)
Posted by Coordinator 28 August 2009
Well done to Alan Kennedy of VicPol who responded with: Banks order ATM’s by the hundreds so it is cheaper to have them all the same rather than two customised sets, one with and one without braille. This week’s question is:
What lethal thing do elevators, money and restaurant menus have in common?
The first CIN member in with the correct response will receive a copy of Edward de Bono’s Six Thinking Hats.
“Seamless Teamwork” by Michael Sampson
Posted by Coordinator 26 August 2009
Want to move beyond using MS SharePoint as a document repository to taking full advantage of the range of collaborative tool it offers? Then Seamless Teamwork by Michael Sampson is the book for you.
It tells the tale of a fictional project that uses SharePoint to support project activities from start to finish. The mechanics of creating sites, announcements, blogs, wikis, document libraries etc are covered. The value of the book however lies in the focus on accomplishing business tasks. A collaboration tool is only introduced to solve a project communication problem. SharePoint design decisions (such as site structure) are explained by the project requirements.
Particularly helpful is the advice on initial content for newly created SharePoint objects. Examples are the announcements that could be made at the start of the project and the content of the main page of a project wiki. These examples of content help overcome the “ blank page anxiety “ one naturally feels after creating a first blog or wiki.
SharePoint users are typically given some basic technical training and then told to go forth and collaborate with little guidance on how to use the tools at their disposal to carry out daily business activities. Seamless Teamwork is the book they have been waiting for. As a bonus, the book is also a useful primer on participative project management,
The book web site is at http://www.seamlessteamwork.com/.
The VPSCIN has three copies of Seamless Teamwork to be won. Using the comments function below, Sharepoint users can simply describe how you have used the software in a collaborative manner or project within Government.
Review kindly provided by Stanton Halik of Education and Early Childhood Development.
An invite to an “Appreciative Inquiry & AQKQ” Workshop
Posted by Coordinator 24 August 2009
The VPSCIN invites members to the AQ-KQ of Change using Appreciative & Kinaesthetic Intelligence.
AQ-KQTM combines both Appreciative Intelligence® (AQ) and Kinaesthetic Intelligence (KQ) in a dynamic way. It is a unique application of the principles and practices of Appreciative Inquiry, Tai Chi and other strength-focused approaches.
In this workshop, participants will be introduced to the concept of AQ-KQ™ as well as the AQ-KQ™ Framework with its eight ‘lenses’ through which to view the world. The workshop will provide a ‘taste’ of the AQ-KQ™ approach to identifying the prevailing stories that influence our lives and implementing practical strategies for successful and positive change.
AQ is the capacity to view life with an ‘appreciative eye’ and ‘re-story’ what we see so we can restore our passion and energy to create an even better future.
KQ uses physical movement to generate and balance energy. It quiets that internal ‘business’ – the chatter going on in our heads – so we are free to think clearly and access our deepest wisdom. In Tai Chi terms, it’s about helping to circulate the chi that nourishes the spirit. It’s also about the connection between physical movement, commitment and taking action.
AQ-KQTM combines the power of these two forms of intelligence in a very dynamic way. It about ‘head, heart and hands’: the best possible thinking and planning (head); driven forward by excitement, passion and energy (heart); made reality through practical action (hands).
When: Sept 25, 8:30 – 12:30pm
Where: Airlie Leadership Development Centre , 260 Domain Rd Sth Yarra
A light lunch will be provided
To RSVP Click Here .