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West Coast Council moves from organisational review to renewal
The real value of an organisational review is what happens next. At West Coast Council, months of listening, consultation and analysis are now moving into a four-year program of organisational renewal.
Over recent months, we have been working with West Coast Council on a comprehensive review of the organisation and what it needs to be sustainable into the future.
Our Executive Director Barry Omundson led the review, spending considerable time on the West Coast, reviewing previous reports including financial and sustainability analysis,
talking with employees, Councillors and other stakeholders, listening to their experiences and understanding what was working well, where change was needed and what Council needed for the future.
That was an important part of the process. An organisational review can’t just look at structures, policies and processes. It also needs to understand the people who work within them and the practical realities of delivering services to the community.
The final Organisational Review was presented to Council in August. Council has now adopted all eight Strategic Recommendations and established an Organisational Renewal Oversight Group to oversee the work that follows.
Barry has also been appointed as Council’s Independent Organisational Sustainability Advisor and will continue working with Council as it moves from review into implementation.
From review to practical change
From the outset, the review was intended to be practical. It wasn’t just about making recommendations. It was about giving Council a clear way forward and a structure for putting those recommendations into practice.
The review sets out a four-year Organisational Renewal Program, moving through Stabilisation, Capability Building, Embedding and Sustainability.
It is built around five areas that need to work together:
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Leadership Stability
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Governance Accountability
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Communication and Trust
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Workforce Capability and Succession
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Implementation and Organisational Learning
Organisational change of this scale takes time.
The next phase is about working through the recommendations in a structured and realistic way, keeping people involved and making sure Council can see whether the changes are making a difference.
For Barry, Council’s commitment to moving forward with all eight recommendations is an important part of the process.
“West Coast Council asked us to take an independent look at the organisation and we did that thoroughly. People were very open with us about their experiences and what they thought would make a difference.
“The important part now is what happens next. Council has accepted all eight recommendations and put a structure around implementing them. My role is to remain independent, provide advice and support, and help Council keep the work moving.”
Ultimately, the work belongs to West Coast Council.
Our role is to provide independent advice and practical support as Council works through the recommendations and builds the capability to sustain the changes over the longer term.
We thank Mayor Shane Pitt, Councillors, Council employees and everyone who contributed to the review for the time, openness, and trust they brought to the process.
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