4.0 Policy Development and Evaluation 4
MBS Flextrack
Service Descriptions
Table of Contents
1.0 Business Analysis / Development 2
2.0 Business Intelligence 3
3.0 Planning 3
4.0 Policy Development and Evaluation 4
5.0 Research and Evaluation 4
6.0 Project Management Support 5
7.0 Scenario Planning 6
8.0 Technical Writing / Editing 6
9.0 Facilitation Support 6
10.0 Negotiation Support 7
11.0 Energy Consulting 8
12.0 Financial Expertise 8
13.0 Human Resources 9
14.0 Procurement / Contracting 11
Service Descriptions
1.0 Business Analysis / Development
Description
This role provides a range of capabilities to advise and assist the client organization in various aspects associated with the description, assessment, design and deployment of business processes. These may range from generating explicit descriptions of individual business processes as currently performed, to performing broader assessments of the overall client business process environment.
Also, design and deployment related services may be required to assist the client organization with respect to defining, documenting and developing a business case associated with individual business processes, combinations of process or with the overall business process model for the Client Organization.
Other key functions might include:
· Economic analysis of projected development or changes in business processes
· Analysis and investigation of the economic value of business proposed for development in specific areas
· Impact of human resource availability and human resistance to change on a specific project or plan
· Management of change within an organization to result in successful implementation of new ways of doing business
· Review and analysis of prevailing regulations to ensure compliance during times of process change
· trade and export market development and related analysis and research;
Mandatory Capabilities and Experience
· Demonstrable analytical problem solving and decision making capabilities
· Demonstrable verbal and written communication skills
· Demonstrable capacity to work collaboratively with client organizations
· A team player with a track record for meeting strict deadlines
· Explicit business analysis and development expertise
· Knowledge of emerging technologies, trends and directions
2.0 Business Intelligence
Description
Business intelligence is a discipline that uses applications and technologies to gather data about an organization’s operations and analyze it, in order to gain a comprehensive understanding of various functional areas, such as sales/marketing, goods production, service delivery and internal operations. The objective is to be improve the timeliness and quality of information, enhance understanding of the organization’s position within its sector, and thereby make more informed business decisions for impact either internally or externally.
Mandatory Capabilities and Experience
· Experience in extensive data mining, analysis and reporting using BI tools
· Experience in translating BI report findings into actionable policies or strategies for government clients
3.0 Planning
Description
This Service Specialty focuses on overall business planning within a Client Organization. The services required range from strategic planning for a Client as a whole to functional or operational planning for a particular organizational unit within the Client Organization. This could be focused on the near term (1-3 years) or longer term (3-5 years or greater).
Mandatory Capabilities and Experience
Planning consultants should have strong education or training in business planning, complemented by extensive experience (minimum of 4 years is preferred. The following are considerable Consultant attributes:
· Academic qualifications such as a Mater of Public Administration (MPA) or Master of Business Administration (MBA), or equivalent
· Undergraduate degrees in either of these disciplines, such as Bachelor of Commerce or Bachelor of Business Administration, complemented by extensive experience in the area of corporate planning
· Professional designation, such as Certified Management Consultant
· Experience with various strategic planning techniques (e.g.: SWOT analysis, Diamond-E, etc.)
· Experience with the implementation of Client strategies and plans, ensuring alignment of potentially multiple functional/operational plans across the Client Organization
4.0 Policy Development and Evaluation
Description
Policy development is primarily the responsibility of client organizations. However, some input and advice may be required during the process of formulating new policies and/or revising existing ones.
Mandatory Capabilities and Experience
Consultants must have a clear understanding of the responsibilities, requirements and limitations of the various participants in the policy development process, including legislative and legal requirements, participation of agencies other than the primary client organization, and impact on the government as a whole as well as the intended target(s) of the policy.
Consultants must have background and experience in the development and implementation of government policy, as well as superior communications skills. Some legal knowledge or training would be an asset.
5.0 Research and Evaluation
Description
The Consultant should be able to conduct systematic investigations (including research development, testing and evaluation) designed to develop or contribute to knowledge of the Client in the area of specialty. Consultants interested in applying under market research, opinion polling, and consumer insights, etc.should contact Communications Nova Scotia. The Research/Evaluation Consultant provides investigative services in one or more of the following areas:
· Determining criteria for research studies (such as goals, objectives, indicators, methods, data collection feasibility, etc.)
· Conducting surveys and analyses of available data
· Business climate – What are the potential areas for development of a new business in a specific area, or enlargement of an existing business?
· Economic development planning and marketing for rural, urban regional or community areas
· Innovation and science – What are the ‘best bets’ for development of new technologies?
· Collecting and analyzing statistics
· Conducting and appraising literature searches
· Industrial benefits of economic development in a specific area
· Immigration impacts on economic development and business
· Trade and investment opportunities
· Impact of changes or new opportunities in infrastructure
· Technology and information related to health care services
· Economic and social analysis of Aboriginal communities and businesses
· Research related to Human Resources issues
· Interpreting, analyzing and making recommendations based on research finding
· Conducting research can be focused on an area of economic need, or on an area of science or technology
· Conducting research related to internal and external business environments, literature reviews associated with a particular topic area
· Both qualitative and quantitative research and any associated criteria and evaluation
· Developing products and tools
Mandatory Capabilities and Experience
The Research / Evaluation Consultant must have an extensive background in their particular area of specialization, and will be expected to take on a research project with minimal “ramp-up” time. S/he must be prepared to work independently, with minimal supervision and guidance from the sponsoring Client Organization. Specific requirements include:
· Excellent oral and written communications skills are mandatory, and key to producing a clear and useful report on the research performed.
· An in-depth understanding of the principles of statistical significance in the field being researched, to avoid misleading conclusions
· Specialist training and/or experience in the area of investigation
· Sensitivity regarding the particular requirements of racial, ethnic, handicapped or economically disadvantaged communities/groups
· Capacity to work collaboratively with the Client Organization
6.0 Project Management Support
Description
Government project management personnel manage the Province’s projects. However, due to the number of potential projects the Province may launch, consultants may be needed to provide experienced project managers to lead specific initiatives or track project progress. The size and scope of projects may vary from enterprise-wide to projects in one section of a larger client organization.
Suppliers may be requested to provide contract resources with the required project management qualifications. Examples of functions to be performed by project managers may include:
· Detailed project planning, including:
o maintaining detailed project plans and schedules
o generating and distributing regular status reports using the Client Organization’s standard planning and reporting tools, as provided
· Ongoing monitoring, management / control and reporting functions associated with implementing a wide range of projects
· Direct participation as an implementation project manager in specific initiatives
· Knowledge/skills transfer to as well as mentoring/coaching of Government project managers/leaders to support future projects, as needed
Mandatory Capabilities and Experience
· A minimum of seven years of progressive project management experience.
· Experience using project management and development methodologies.
· Experience managing projects to address the needs of multiple stakeholders e.g. the requirements of multiple divisions across a single enterprise.
· Experience coaching/mentoring and transferring skills and knowledge to project managers in the client organization and providing support to them, as required throughout the project life cycle.
7.0 Scenario Planning
Description
Scenario Planning is a management process for defining and making decisions in the face of significant uncertainty. It is a formalized methodology for developing models of potential alternative futures, using variables pertinent to the business in question. These multiple, alternative futures take shape in the form of ‘stories’ or scenarios. The resulting scenarios provide a platform from which senior management perceptions about future alternative environments can be analyzed, assessed and compared for their voracity.
Scenarios are not forecasts of the future but are, as a group, a set of alternative futures that reflect the total scope of all possible futures as we can possibly imagine it.
Mandatory Capabilities and Experience
· Experience and training in the facilitation of scenario planning methodology
· Knowledge of systems thinking theory
· Experience in public sector management development
8.0 Technical Writing / Editing
Description
This role focuses primarily on writing specifications, manuals, project summaries, etc., Examples of the key functions expected from the Technical Writer / Editor include:
· Writing and editing various types of products (e.g.: specifications, requests for proposals, etc.)
· Writing and editing technical guides, articles, manuals, etc., for print and digital media
· Writing technical pieces in language that will appeal to a broad audience
· Assisting in the development of relevant case studies
· Transferring skills and knowledge to internal personnel
Mandatory Capabilities and Experience
· Extensive capabilities and experience in presenting technical material in language that can appeal to a broad audience (preferably Government documents)
9.0 Facilitation Support
Description
Facilitation is a role performed by an independent third party to the participants (as distinct from a manager ‘chairing’ a meeting). This role provides a range of capabilities to advise and assist the client organization in various aspects of organizing and facilitating formal working sessions, both within the client organization and between the client organization and third parties. The facilitator should enable dialogue, discussion and consensus among and between the participants, rather than provide ‘expert’ opinion.
Examples of functions that may be needed to be performed by a facilitator include:
· Establishing meeting objectives and agendas
· Establishing the rules under which the meeting will be conducted and identifying the roles of participants
· Facilitating the flow and conduct of the meeting
· Supporting the Client Organization to design and package meetings and related sessions
· Participation in the development and delivery of organizational team building initiatives
Mandatory Capabilities and Experience
· Oral and written communication skills
· Capacity to work collaboratively with Client Organizations
· Development of formal process for conducting large complex sessions (i.e. public workshop) and/or small focus groups
· Familiarity with explicit facilitation techniques and processes associated with meeting organization
· Conflict resolution
10.0 Negotiation Support
Description
Negotiation efforts will be the prime responsibility of the NS Government client organization, Procurement Services and legal counsel. Support may be required for the following:
· Client Support
o Establish an issues-resolution framework to support the negotiating team.
o Compile an inventory of relevant background materials to support negotiation.
o Understand and/or set out the fundamental premise for negotiation that will be used to develop the overall negotiation framework/context.
o Identify issues which might limit your ability to negotiate; any non-negotiable terms or conditions.
o Anticipate and document the vendor’s interests.
o Develop internal communication/reporting strategies including checklists to address the concerns of key stakeholders.
· Joint Preparation
o Conduct team building sessions with the negotiating teams from all parties.
o Jointly prepare a list of the areas to be negotiated.
o Develop an external communications strategy.
o Prepare and manage a negotiations schedule.
· Joint Negotiation Sessions
o At the end of each session, prepare an agenda for the next session.
o Maintain a dynamic list of issues and resolutions.
o Facilitate negotiation discussions.
· Alternate Dispute Resolution
o Establish & obtain agreement on the issues between the parties
o Identify common ground and areas of disagreement
o Employ the appropriate technique for resolution – negotiation, mediation or arbitration
Mandatory Capabilities and Experience
· A minimum of five years of progressive experience in negotiation and/or alternate dispute resolution
· Familiarity and experience with the concepts of interest-based negotiations
· A capacity for conflict resolution between parties with opposing views and finding a path to co-existence when the circumstances are divergent
11.0 Energy Consulting
Description
As the price of energy continues to climb globally, the strategic importance of balanced energy policy that addresses both renewable and non-renewableenergy resources, energy conservation and energy efficiency will continue to grow. Achieving and maintaining balanced energy policy and priorities is an exercise that is expected to be an ever changing challenge over the coming years. Therefore Nova Scotia will require specialty energy consulting services in the broad area of energy policy as well asin specific areas such as onshore and offshore oil and gas competitiveness, regulatory efficiency, wind, wave and tidal power, energy R&D policy, etc.
Mandatory Capabilities and Experience
· Experience in federal-provincial relations in energy, fiscal policy, and general public policy areas;