Program Design
Approaches and Methods
We take experienced senior mangers out of their hectic offices for a day and a half per month, and place them in the neutral space of the University of Ottawa’s Graduate School of Public and International Affairs. The Centre for Public Management and Policy itself is housed in historic Odell House, a restored 19th century residence, ideally suited for informal discussion (under the ‘Chatham House rule` intended to encourage direct and frank conversation and ensure confidentiality ). Participants work in groups of up to 24 who stay together for the 20 month duration of the Program
In order to achieve the above mentioned objectives the Program uses a variety of approaches and methods:
- personal contact and dialogue with outstanding leaders in government, politics, the media, the private sector and academe (see Annex A for examples from the past two years);
- exercises that challenge the participants to learn and practice new skills and knowledge on their own;
- debate and dialogue within the group as participants learn to learn from each other;
- travel and first-hand contact with people, cultures and institutions that play an important role in the world around us;
- readings on a wide range of topics and exposure to new sources of information; and
- coaching and focusing on the personal side of leadership.
Perhaps the most important design feature of the Program is the act of sharing the learning journey with fellow travelers. The group dynamics within each cohort contribute enormously to the overall impact of the executive development experience. The different backgrounds, expertise and perspectives, the different organizations from which they come, the different management styles and management experience within the public service which each participant brings, become a critical source of mutual learning and support.
Participants also gain an invaluable asset in the bonds of trust and open communication that form among a group of colleagues from across the breadth of the system and which will long survive their graduation and enrich their careers.
Boot Camp
Because participants come to the Program with widely varying familiarity with the basics of governance and public management in Canada, a four-day boot camp will be offered to launch the first module. This will provide an overview of Parliament, Cabinet, the roles and relations between the federal and provincial/ territorial governments, machinery of government, the policy process, legislation and regulations, setting the fiscal plan, determining expenditure budgets, and public accounts. This session will also provide participants with the opportunity to assess their own leadership style and practice, and to begin to set individual and group development goals for the Program.
Modules and Themes
The Program is organized into three modules and three crosscutting themes. The module topics are:
One: Public Sector Management (November 2011 to April 2012) – A synthesis of policy intent and sound practice in the fundamental public management areas of people management, financial management, management of information and technology, values and ethics, and accountability.
Two: Governance (May to December 2012) – Topics covered include the political context of democratic governance, relations between political figures and senior public servants, the importance of public trust, how Cabinet decision-making works, the roles of central agencies, federal-provincial/territorial relations, and comparisons with governance in provinces, private sector corporations and not-for-profit organizations.
Three: Canada in the World (January to June 2013) – A probing consideration of Canada’s place in the world and the impact of international realities on public management and leadership, looking in turn at Canada’s place in North America, its relations with Asia, Europe and Latin America, its multilateral roles, defense, global security, and international development.
Three crosscutting themes are worked into each of the modules to deepen participants’ appreciation of the themes themselves and their relevance in the context of the module topics. These themes are:
- Personal and Leadership Development – Successful leadership has a critical emotional and interpersonal dimension. Thus the Program has participants taking part in several “action learning” sessions during which they will have the opportunity to probe pressing management or leadership challenges, in the roles of both presenter and advisor, under the supervision of experienced coaches. Individual coaching (up to six hours per participant) will also be offered. This aspect allows participants to concentrate on identifying individual areas for improvement as leaders, and on developing strategies for making progress.
- Sound Use of Evidence – An examination of the nature of evidence and the practice of risk management in formulating policy and applying legislation, including the interplay of policy analysis, research, public opinion, and political leadership. Applications in the fields of science and regulation, economic and social policy, and intelligence will be explored.
- Strengthening the Public Service Executive Competencies – Values and ethics, strategic thinking, engagement, and management excellence will be emphasized throughout the three modules.
For Cohort V, each module will include five group sessions covering a Monday evening and all day Tuesday, three to four weeks apart (except during the month of a study tour).
Study Tours
Complementing each module is a one-week study tour (plus travel time). For the first module, there will be a visit to London and Berlin in March, 2012 to explore approaches to redesigning public services and the public service in the UK and Germany. Destinations for modules two and three will focus on Canada (likely the Alberta oil sands), and major multilateral institutions such as the UN, IMF and World Bank and think tanks on international affairs (located in Washington and New York).