Port Louis, 28 October 2021: The National Productivity and Competitiveness Council (NPCC) signed on Monday 25 October a Memorandum of Agreement with the Ministry of Public Service, Administrative and Institutional Reforms for the implementation of the Smart (Lean) Process for the Public Service.
The Smart (Lean) Process project is one of the projects under the Public Sector Business Transformation Strategy (PSBTS) adopted in 2017. It aims primarily at simplifying and automating business processes to be rapid, responsive and efficient. It also has as objective to allow for process chains, systems or networks add value and result in shorter decision cycles. The Smart (Lean) Process will also work towards removing unnecessary or poorly designed regulations and develop mechanisms to minimise red tape.
The NPCC will develop a reference manual to provide step-by-step guidance on the implementation of the Smart Process Framework. The NPCC is further partnering with the Kaizen Institute to empower officers in the public sector to lead and implement process improvement projects. The NPCC will also engage in promoting productivity consciousness across the public sector through awareness programmes in line with its Strategic Plan 2021- 2025.
The key interventions of the NPCC during the course of this project will focus on the implementation of business process re-engineering exercises in Ministries and Departments; capacity building programmes on best practices and methodologies; and promotion of a culture of continuous improvement in the Public Service.
For the Executive Director of the NPCC, Mr. Ashit Gungah, the Smart Process Framework for the public sector project is fitting for the present time as we seek to re-position the economy on a path of recovery and sustainable growth post-COVID-19 pandemic.
“With all time high public demand for efficient public services, compounded with stiff competition due to globalisation, it has become inescapable for the public sector to continuously review the way it operates. We are compelled to provide a citizen-centric Public Service that is seamless, adaptive and responsive,” said Mr. Gungah.
“It is gratifying to note that this project is laying much emphasis on digital transformation in the Public Service, which has become all the more important with the outbreak of the Covid-19 crisis. This is in line with the Digital Government Transformation Strategy 2018-2022 which advocated that all Ministries and Departments should implement e-Business strategies in their respective sectors, particularly to ensure business continuity in the wake of unprecedented events,” said Minister of Industrial Development, SMEs and Cooperatives, Hon Soomilduth Bholah.
“Reforms, transformation and change in the Public Sector is not only inevitable but it is necessary as it is no longer possible to cling to a model that has reached its limitations and the end of a cycle of bureaucratic practice. The present setup is, by and large, characterised by entrenched procedures and processes that have no place in a totally different local and global landscape. As ever before, efficiency, adaptability, resilience, quality, transparency and accountability in the Public Service remain the bedrock for recovery and progress,” said the Minister of Public Service, Administrative and Institutional Reforms, Hon Teeruthraj Hurdoyal.
The Agreement was signed between the Chairman of the NPCC, Mr. Sujoy Busgeeth, Mr. Ashit Gungah and the Secretary for Public Service, Mr. Bojrazsingh Boyramboli in the presence of Hon Soomilduth Bholah and Hon Teeruthraj Hurdoyal.
The Smart (Lean) Process for the Public Service in the media
Le projet Smart (Lean) Process pour minimiser les formalités administratives (ION News - 29.10.21)
NPCC signature d'accord pour la mise en œuvre du « Smart (Lean) Process » pour la fonction publique (MBC Web - 28.10.21)
An Agreement With NPCC To Re-Engineer Business Processes In Civil Service (Le Matinal - 26.10.21)
Public Service Ministry partners with NPCC to re-engineer business processes in Civil Service (GIS - 25.10.21)
Le ministère du Service public signe un accord avec le NPCC pour le projet Smart Process (MBC News - 25.10.21)