Members of the Public Service attend workshop on BPR

The importance of Business Process Re-engineering (BPR) will be explained to members of the Public Service this week, as the Ministry of the Public Service,{{more}} in collaboration with the Service Commissions Department and the Caribbean Centre for Development Administration hold a workshop (CARICAD).

The workshop, which began on Monday, June 20, 2011, seeks to inform participants on Business Process Re-engineering and how it can apply to businesses here, among other things.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, BPR Consultant from Singapore Ooh Koon Tian stated that with the implementation of BPR in that country, they had to learn from other countries. Stating that initially, Singapore’s conditions were worse than Caribbean countries, Tian added that a lot of changes had to be incorporated to introduce BPR.

Commenting on the size of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Tian added that it can be seen as an advantage. In the case of Singapore, BPR was implemented more quickly than with larger countries. He encouraged the participants gathered to look at disadvantages or weaknesses as strengths, adding that St. Vincent’s small size can be seen as a weakness, but it can be a strength as well, according to how it is used.

Minister of the Public Service Maxwell Charles, addressing the participants, stated that the BPR seeks to transform the Public Service for the delivery of a more efficient and effective service.

Charles stated BPR is all about changing the way in which public servants operate and the way in which customers are treated. He added that the concept of BPR must be embraced now and that the public service must adapt this process to improve in their output.

Also giving remarks, Andre Griffith of the CARICAD E-Government encouraged the participants to start the process from a blank page, thinking of the needs of the customer and designs to meet those needs. “You do not want to simply replicate,” Griffith said.

Giving an account of how he paid five bills in two minutes, Griffith stated that technology goes hand in hand with the re-engineering process.

Chief Personnel Office Tyrone Burke also stated that the BPR is one way in which businesses can transform themselves and improve their performance.(OS)