Enhancing Implementation & Evaluation in the Victorian Public Sector Presentation to the Australasian Evaluation Society Victorian Branch – Seminar & Workshop Program 23 May 2006 Jane Brockington Assistant Director Implementation Unit Department of Premier & Cabinet

DPC Implementation Unit – 23 May 2006 Outline Implementation and evaluation in the policy process Approaches to tackling public sector implementation in other jurisdictions Functions and scope of the Victorian Implementation Unit (IU) The IU approach to evaluation Challenges in evaluation Looking forward Questions

DPC Implementation Unit – 23 May 2006 Implementation & evaluation in the policy process Policy formation Policy implementation Problem specification Policy evaluation

DPC Implementation Unit – 23 May 2006 Building a culture of implementation and evaluation Build into policy Monitor and report Early Identification Work to solve Lessons learnt Build implementation and evaluation up-front in policy development Monitor and report on progress Feed in lessons to next generation of policy Early identification of potential problems Work with other departments and stakeholders to solve identified problems

DPC Implementation Unit – 23 May 2006 What’s happening elsewhere? UK: Prime Minister’s Delivery Unit (PMDU) Commonwealth Cabinet Implementation Unit (CIU) QLD: Implementation Unit SA: Deputy Secretary, Policy Implementation, DPC New Zealand

DPC Implementation Unit – 23 May 2006 Why establish an Implementation Unit in Victoria? To enhance delivery through: Bringing a sharper focus to the delivery of strategic objectives through monitoring and reporting of progress Improving joined-up government Lifting capabilities in implementation and evaluation across the VPS

DPC Implementation Unit – 23 May 2006 The IU approach to evaluation Scope –Focus on major government commitments in the first instance Evaluation planning at the outset –Encourage better up-front planning for evaluation

DPC Implementation Unit – 23 May 2006 The IU approach to evaluation (continued…) Reasonable expectations –Evaluation framework to be commensurate with the size and complexity of the initiative Outcome-based measures –Encourage inclusion of outcome-based performance measures in evaluation frameworks –Linkages with macro-frameworks

DPC Implementation Unit – 23 May 2006 Emerging challenges in evaluation Complexity of the business of government Consistent understanding of terms & concepts Long term nature of many outcomes

DPC Implementation Unit – 23 May 2006 Emerging challenges in evaluation (continued…) Data availability & cost -Avoiding costly duplication of performance measurement processes (fit-for-purpose) Competition via comparison

DPC Implementation Unit – 23 May 2006 Looking forward We hope to: Understand capabilities –Share knowledge and information –Find opportunities Enhance the implementation and evaluation capacity of departments Work towards consistency in approach across the range of portfolio areas

DPC Implementation Unit – 23 May 2006 Questions?