Appendix 2. Summary of Related Planning Processes

Ministry Information Resource Management Plan

The Ministry has implemented a plan to manage its information resources. This plan encompasses the following information management directions and major projects.

Information Management Directions

1. Implementation of the Ministry Information Systems Plan — Completed in March 2003, the plan provides a vision and framework for future Ministry information management and information technology initiatives and a migration strategy for moving toward this vision. The plan ensures that Ministry data and information systems are managed from a corporate perspective and aligned to fully support the Ministry's business goals and priorities. The plan will be updated on an annual basis to reflect emerging business needs such as the initiatives highlighted below.

2. Service Delivery via the Web — Deliver better service to the Ministry's customers by providing multiple means of access to its programs, including use of the Internet and interactive voice response (phone) systems. This will reduce application turnaround time, reduce errors and decrease the amount of data entry.

3. More Financial Accountability — Development of all new application initiatives are more closely aligned with the Finance and Administration Services Branch to ensure financial requirements are included in systems design.

4. Central Data Warehouse (CDW) initiative — Administration and management of a joint project of the Ministry and the public colleges, university colleges and institutes to establish data standards for post-secondary administrative reporting. This initiative will ensure that data submitted by participating institutions are consistent, creating a foundation for meaningful cross-institution statistics.

5. Records Management and E-documents — Electronic versions of correspondence related to student loans are available to student loan applicants securely via the Web.

Major Projects

Implementation of Year 1 of the Ministry Information Systems Plan: Foundation for Data Quality Management — Target: Completion by June/04 The focus of first year activities of the Plan is building a strong foundation for the management of data quality.

BC Student Assistance Program Online (Internet Loan Application) Release 5 — Target: Completion by May/04 This system allows students to apply for student financial assistance online. The next release will further increase processing efficiencies and be easier for clients to use. The number of participating BC private and out-of-province institutions will continue to increase.

Student Financial Assistance System Enhancements — Target: Completion by May/04 Each year, enhancements are made to reflect changes in program policy and/or to improve processing efficiencies. These enhancements must be completed by May each year, as this is when the new student loan application for the upcoming program year is released.

Portal Conversion Project — Target: 50% complete by March/05 The government-wide Portal Conversion Project will convert all government Internet and intranet Web sites and electronic services to the Enterprise Portal, a single point of entry to BC Government's Web-based information and electronic services.

Ministry Human Resource Management Plan

The Ministry has implemented a human resource management plan to address its long-term staffing and skills needs. This plan encompasses the following six goals.

Human Resource Goals

Goal 1: Proactive and Visionary Leadership.

To support the Public Service Renewal Initiative to renew, revitalize, and sustain a professional public service in BC and to provide all Ministry staff with a clear sense of Government and Ministry vision, mission, goals and objectives.

Goal 2: Performance Focused Workforce.

To ensure all Ministry employees have a clear understanding of how their job is linked to Government and Ministry goals and objectives and to recognize and reward excellence in employee performance.

Goal 3: Flexible and Motivating Work Environment.

To promote and support employee wellness, a healthy balance between work and personal life and to provide all new employees with an opportunity to attend a Ministry orientation session.

Goal 4: Learning and Innovative Organization.

To establish a Ministry culture that supports continuous learning, where employees and management share responsibility for ensuring that employees obtain the training and work experience they need to achieve their career goals and to establish a Ministry culture that supports innovation.

Goal 5: Effective People Strategy.

To ensure that the Ministry has an effective people strategy.

Goal 6: Progressive Employee/Employer Relations.

To ensure that all managers and staff are aware of, and comply with, the provisions of collective agreements and to provide an appropriate forum/mechanism for resolution of employee/employer issues.