Welcome to the CIN Blog
Posted by webmaster 9 August 2006
This will be a place where we can share the continuous impovement related knowledge of the Victorian Public Sector Continuous Improvement Network (VPSCIN) as well as get your feedback on newsletter items, upcoming events and activities CIN members are undertaking.
Your comments will play a role in the overall evaluation of the network’s impact. We look forward to your participation.
Past newsletters are posted here (below) and moving forward you will be able to regularly download the latest newsletter from this site.
Your comments and suggestions are welcomed.
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July 25th, 2006 at 6:41 am
Thanks for this Frank, a great initiative that I hope will take off. As a member of the VPS CIN from outside (RMIT) I think this will provide an interesting opportunity to share ideas across sectors.
I have just returned from a month at Lancaster University in the UK where they have dedicated a year to exploring issues associated with the Knowledge Based Economy (KBE). One of the interesting questions raised was what should be the role of Universities (the traditional Knowledge Industry) in the KBE? I would be interested in exploring views of VPS CIN members on this question if it would be of interest.
July 26th, 2006 at 5:46 am
Hi Frank,
Can we have a database on internet to assist VPSCIN members in networking?
From your email dated 24/7/06 on the CIN Newsletter I counted 485 people.
The database would be a great help to contact and network with people at VPSCIN events.
Michael De Sousa
Quality Co-ordinator
Metropolitan Fire & Emergency Services Board
July 26th, 2006 at 6:53 am
Congratulations on this CIN Blog. Blogs offer great opportunities to communicate new and exciting ideas.
In a lecture at the Monash Centre for Regulaltory Studies in May 2006, Gary Banks, Chairman of the Inquiry on Reducing Regulatory Burdens on Business and Chairman of the Productivity Commission, identified a key failure in regulation-making as poor communication between regulators and the regulated.
Mr Banks said, “A key deficiency that needs to be addressed is consultation. Regulation without consultation is like a shot in the dark. Yet a recent government survey found that only one-quarter of regulatory agencies consult outside government when developing regulations. As business has demonstrated, the consultation that has occurred has been sporadic and half-hearted in many cases, and often too late or leaving too little time for business to respond. This smacks of ‘government knows best’ and has been a major cause of some of the most costly regulatory decisions. (A contemporary example, hopefully caught in the bud, is the drafting of anti-money laundering legislation.)”
Is anyone aware of new practices or tools to improve consultation to better identify potential compliance burdens or alternatives to regulation?
July 26th, 2006 at 7:32 am
Thanks for setting this up Frank. It will be good to fill the gap, as Michael mentions, when we want to contact others to find out what’s being planned, or work-in-progress. The newsletter has great stories – but we also need to share early thoughts and ideas.
I’m keen to use a blog, wiki or similar to get end user contribution to our ICMS project and wondered if other government organisations have tried this?
Marilyn Lambert
ICMS Program
Dept of Justice
July 26th, 2006 at 11:05 am
Nice to see this in place Frank, it will futher enhance VPSCIN as a leader in forward thinking in government. I really enjoyed my session there earlier in the year and this blog will allow more people to be involved
July 26th, 2006 at 9:59 pm
To the VPS CIN team
Congratulations on such an innovative and thought-provoking program
in 2006… it’s heartwarming to see investigation of different
ways of doing things and thinking… after all, there’s an old saying that says,
“If you always do what you’ve always done – you’ll always get what you’ve always got”.
Here’s to new possibilities… and thanks for the education so far!
July 26th, 2006 at 10:29 pm
A blog around Continuous improvement is a great idea. If promoted well, it should generate a lot of lively debate about resources and priorities. Making some of this debate open will gereate a wealth of ideas and possibly some new directions for investment. Sandra’s idea of getting the universities involved is an example of this. Universities have a much higher profile in corporate and government activities in both Eurpoe and USA.
July 27th, 2006 at 4:56 pm
The interesting thing is that the newsletter really only scratches the surface. There are so many more quite brilliant initiatives happening across the Victorian Public Sector. Hopefully sharing some of these stories will dispel some of those old and tired myths we hear about the about the “Public Service.”
July 27th, 2006 at 9:35 pm
In terms of practices and tools to aid in better consultation we have from experience found de Bono’s Six Thinking Hats an effective method, particularly when there are diverse and strongly held views with a lot of information to process. The parallel thinking technique gets meeting participants to move outside their habitual thinking styles and develop a more rounded view of a situation. In such an environment the consultative process is enhanced with a greater likelihood of achieving concensus. In terms of the generation of alternatives, there are no better tools than the Lateral Thinking tools which can be used effectively within the Hats framework.
Dept. of Justice has done some very effective things with the tools and business units within Victoria Police are currently gearing up to apply the technique to further improve the quality and output of their meetings.
Pleased to assist with any related enquiries !
July 28th, 2006 at 11:42 am
Thanks for developing this site for the sharing of ideas. I wanted to take the opportunity to comment on the forthcoming laughter workshop that you have arranged. I havent taken part in this before but was very interested both as a welling being focus for our staff but equally keen to participate to see the potential use with the clients of our service, who all have intellectual disabilites, and their families. I get a sense that it is potentially a great thing to do with our service users.
July 28th, 2006 at 11:49 am
Looking forward to the Organisational Health & Laughter Seminar, and even moreso to the challenge of practicing it in the workplace. Thanks for promoting such a ‘novel’ and creative approach to quality.
Vikki Sinnott
July 28th, 2006 at 11:49 am
Pamela Gilbert
Looking forward to session on laughter – we all need more of it!!
July 28th, 2006 at 11:59 am
I concur with the majority that this is great idea, & a tool that has the potential to offer quick & measurable wins. The proof I suppose will be our ability as a group to embrace & utilise such a tool to its true potential.
Personally I would love to hear about any creative thinking flavoured activities/workshops that our various members are conducting. It would even be great if the opportunity presented itself, to be involved with some of these intitiatives in a support role or as an observer.
July 28th, 2006 at 3:22 pm
What a great idea! It has a whole raft of possibilities! I see it a great opportunity for connecting with those travelling down the same path especially for those of us who are external members of VPSCIN(Child Support Agency).
I was asked the other day “how do you measure continuous improvement?” I would be keen to hear others thoughts…
July 28th, 2006 at 4:13 pm
It is fantastic to read the positive comments from great people. This will bring synergy, excitement and enhance potential.
Could I suggest everyone name the organisation they represent (at least the first time)to help with networking.
Michael De Sousa
Metropoltian Fire Brigade
July 31st, 2006 at 10:51 pm
Great to see the blog up and running. About three years ago when I was working for the Australian Public Service in NOIE, I commented on the lack of published case studies of KM in the public sector. I realised that the only way to rectify that was to get off my behind and ring around a few people to organise them. Likewise, this is a great example of what is possible when a passionate group of people take the initiative. It is just so important to document these things and especially in the public domain so that the myth of the bureaucratic and archaic public service can be dispelled to reveal the treasure trove of innovation and improvement initiatives that are around.
Luke Naismith
Strategic Directions Unit
Department of Justice
August 1st, 2006 at 12:07 pm
Is blog. Is good. Looking forward to the exchanges. To start with a little something that appeared on Cognitive Edge Website this morning re PowerPoint … try http://wired.com/wired/archive/11.09/ppt2.html
… a little too innovative perhaps?
August 2nd, 2006 at 1:20 pm
I look forward to browsing the past issues of the newsletter as so many of the comments seem to respond to things I would like to know about.
August 2nd, 2006 at 3:16 pm
Thanks for inviting us to be part of the VPSCIN and for setting up this Blog. We have done work with a number of VPS sections in developing Deliberate Creative Thinking and my own background in Continuous Improvement makes me very interested in what people throughout VPS are doing. I hope to add some value to the network and will input ideas as I think they are relevant. One such thought is around the setting up of a VPSCIN Ideas Management System. This is not my area of expertise, but I know these systems exist and have a contact on one good system. The aim is to not just share ideas but to allow members to build on each other\’s ideas until an innovative solution emerges. I wish I had these sorts of systems and blogs when I was overseeing hundreds on process improvement activities.
Also to support your comments on the use of Six Hats, I agree these are a great tool set for process improvement and I have included them in training for continuous improvement since 1987. We still use Six Hats every week in supporting client thinking and train many people every year.
Good luck with the blog and VPSCIN – you have my support.
August 2nd, 2006 at 3:31 pm
A system for the management of ideas forms a perfect fit for the things we are trying to achieve. Given that ideas in their original form are rarely able to be put into practice, some form of system that allows us to generate movement on ideas in a collaborative manner would certainly add value. Sounds very interesting, keen to find out more …
August 2nd, 2006 at 4:29 pm
The Licensing Services Division is Victoria Police’s second largest service delivery channel, providing service and advice to nearly half a million people each year.
Our challenge is to nurture a change agenda and support our people as we build culture of communication and service. These processes evoke anxiety and uncertainty that can easily overwhelm improvement initiatives as current behaviours attempt to survive. The Continuous Improvement Network creates a supportive environment where we can explore possibilities, expand our knowledge, be creative and meet colleagues committed to making a difference! The way forward is a Whole of Government approach – the CIN and its Blog are invaluable tools! Working with the CIN has been inspiring! Thank you.
August 2nd, 2006 at 11:04 pm
As the Learning partners with Cognitive Edge, SOLA (Society for Organisational Learning Australia) is delighted to be working with CIN to assist in making learning opportunities in the areas of complexity, organisation learning…. and of course innovation and continuous imporvement – accessable to members. I hope that we will be able to jointly work on projects that increase the capability of the network as well as providing practical application of new tools and methods in the fields of shared interest. Joining networks and making connections that enable people to make their own choices about ways of doing things and who to do it with is critical – so thanks for starting this! and here is to continued rich shared learning opportunities
August 8th, 2006 at 6:08 pm
The VPSCIN is providing a wonderful opportunity to share knowledge, promote positive change and create a learning environment within the VPS.
The network is exploring new and interesting things and there is opportunity to share the rich discussion on improvement programs and strategies.
August 21st, 2006 at 2:16 pm
I thought the session was fun but with serious intent. I didn\’t feel 100% engaged for some of the practical parts of the session, but thought that the messages were relevent for us all. The gratitude bit really strikes a chord with me, and I try to do that when I can, but it is great to be reminded. Thanks for organising the session.