Special Issues Facing Public Sector Organizations
What are the special issues facing public sector organizations like the Highways Agency when it comes to
designing and implementing a business improvement strategy?
What special issues would need to be faced by your company or another you know well? Explain with
examples
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Special Issues Facing Public Sector Organizations
Introduction
Strategies for improvement of organizations are developed every so often. It is crucial for
organizations to come up with strategies to ensure dynamism and constant improvement. In the
course of development and implementation of the strategies, there are several issues that
organizations face. While some ate challenges that impede the development and subsequent
implementation of the strategies, others are stepping stones that work towards the realization of
the goal. This discussion looks at some of the issues that emerge in the development and
implementation of development strategies.
Having a Clear Focus
This is very crucial for every organization as it helps in cutting clear the direction. This
involves looking at the vision and mission of the organization, and identifying whether or not
they are in tandem with the goals of the organization (Armstrong 2006). Where necessary, the
mission and vision will be revealed so that they are totally in line with the direction in which the
organization seeks to move.
Benchmark
Benchmarking is yet another issue of great importance. It involves looking at what is
considered to be best practice and using it to come up with a model that suits the needs of the
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Special Issues Facing Public Sector Organizations
business. In the strategy of benchmarking, an organization will look at all the services that they
offer to the public. Questions must then be asked in form of a review as to the necessity of the
services. The aspect of cost versus benefits and commercial interests must be carefully
considered. There are some activities that organizations engage in as matter of routine and
culture and of no benefit. Through a benchmark review, such activities are revealed and done
away with.
One the services have been scrutinized and have been found to be necessary and of
utmost importance, the second step is to carry out a self assessment. This involves seeking to
establish how well the organization has performed in terms of delivery of the said services. In
considering this aspect, a number of issues must be considered. Some of them include feedback
from customers, projected profit margins as contracted to the actual sales among others.
It is after identification of the actual performance at present that strategies are put in place
to bring about an improvement. Even when the organization is satisfied with the performance,
there is always a room for improvement (Armstrong 2006). The organization will then come up
with ways and means through which even better performance can be enhanced. It is crucial to
remember that a public sector organization pays an important role as they set out the guidelines
that are followed by all those in the industry. In the development of strategies, it is crucial to
ensure that decisions are made with a sober mind in order to streamline the relations of the
industry.
The next step is the implementation stage where all the changes that have been made are
affected. This takes some time and has its fair share of challenges. Some of the challenges
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Special Issues Facing Public Sector Organizations
include the fact there might not be proper facilities and mechanism to absorb the changes. The
personnel are also caught off guard and perhaps not fully ready to let go of what they are used to.
Eventually, however, the change process is implemented and what follows are results.
Achievements
Having carefully and keenly implanted the strategy, the results that were realized were quite
positive. In order establish whether or not the implementation of the strategy has worked a
number of evaluation measures must be put in place. This will involve looking at the overall
strategy that has been put in place. It will be crucial to identify if all the changes that have been
effected have had any positive impact on the organization. In order to wholesomely conclude
that the strategy is successful, every aspect of the strategy must be carefully considered and
examined.
Special Issues that Ought to faced by Organizations
One of the special issues that should be faced by any growing organization is dynamism.
Dynamism in this case refers to constant changes within the organization. These changes often
occur as result of the dynamism in the sector or industry within which the organization is based.
Dynamism is direct characteristic of growth. When an organization is moving from one level to
another, changes are bound to occur (Armstrong 2006). An organization that is constantly in one
place is an indication of lack of growth. This consequently may mean that an organization will
not achieve the goals it had set out to achieve.
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Special Issues Facing Public Sector Organizations
Of even greater necessity in organizations is the constant identification of areas of
improvement. Organizations should not at any one time remain in comfort zones. When an
organization is comfortable with its level of achievement, no great effort will be put. However,
constant identification of areas that need improvement helps to keep the organization on their
toes.
Another aspect that is importance is emphasis on offering products and services that are
geared towards customer satisfaction. An organization must constantly keep in mind that the
customer remains first in all decisions that are made. All the issues that have been discussed
herein above are all done with the customer in mind. Organizations must ensure that they
prioritize the customers (Armstrong 2006). Customer management and satisfaction has been
identified as one of the pillars of successful organizations. At the end of the day, the most
important aspect for public organizations such as the Highway Agency is quality delivery of
services. For services to be considered to be of high quality, it means that those receiving them
are happy and satisfied with the services. It is not always easy to achieve the highest threshold of
customer management and satisfaction. It is for this reason that organizations must from time to
time engage the customers. This will help the organization understand exactly the expectations of
the customers and hence meet them. Engaging the receivers of service should be done often to
cater for the dynamism that is characteristic of the various industries. The world is dynamic and
so are the various sectors. This means that even the expectations of customers are likely to
change with time.
Conclusion
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Special Issues Facing Public Sector Organizations
There are various challenges as well as special issues that public organizations face.
While the challenges and opportunities may not match, the most important thing to recognize is
that customer satisfaction and happiness remains the most paramount. Organizations must
endeavor to attain if not surpass the high bar that has been set by the clientele. Designing and
implementing a strategy may sound simple. However, it will only be effective if all the factors
that have been discussed herein above are incorporated.
Reference
Armstrong, M, 2006, Strategic reward: making it happen, London, Kogan Page
