6. Measuring and Reviewing Ministry Performance
Robust governance arrangements and performance measurement will ensure Commerce meets increasing demands for accountability within the public sector.
The governance and overview of Commerce's operational branches is strengthened by an advisory board with outside commercial representation.
The performance measurement process begins with establishing detailed performance measures and standards in key accountability documents, the annual Departmental Forecast Report and purchase agreements with Ministers.
Reporting on actual performance involves quarterly and year-end reports to Ministers against each of the six purchase agreements, an Annual Report to Parliament, and six-monthly and year-end reports to the State Services Commission (SSC).
These reports result in evaluations of Commerce's performance by Ministers, Parliament and its Committees, the SSC and other central agencies, and by the Audit Office.
In addition Commerce undertakes a number of periodic reviews of its own performance, including internal and external surveys of client satisfaction with services provided, risk management reviews, and branch self-review projects.
Commerce will systematically enhance these evaluation processes by:
- reviewing annually the measures and standards in the plans and accountability documents, ensuring they meet best-practice and the needs of recipients;
- reviewing specifically the achievement measures and indicators for the effectiveness of Commerce policy advice, including the achievement of KRAs and milestones;
- establishing best-practice and benchmark standards in all operational areas, and report on improvements; and
- achieving ISO accreditation for service delivery where this is appropriate, and implementing the required procedures.
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