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Sustainable Management

Core Competency

Definition

Sustainable management is about delivering results by maximizing organizational effectiveness and sustainability of our human, financial, and environmental resources. It means implementing rigorous and comprehensive human, financial, and environmental resource accountability systems to ensure that our resources are managed effectively and with integrity, and that these are carefully considered in the development and implementation of all policies and programs in order to guarantee a healthy and prosperous Northwest Territories for future generations.

Why is it Important?

With the shifting of governance structures, it is increasingly important that we manage our human, fiscal, land, water and other natural resources responsibly and sustainably. This means working with Aboriginal and other northern governments to plan and design a more financially independent future, a strong and diverse economy, and the presence of plentiful natural resources to provide future generations of Northerners with more opportunities than we have experienced. It is also through the effective and sustainable management of our resources that we can address housing needs and ensure we have a sustainable health care system in our Territory.

Behavioural Scales

1. Uses resources responsibly

  • Respects how workplace resources are to be used.
  • Understands work-unit goals and strategies.
  • Seeks advice when faced with competing demands on time and financial resources.
  • Understands own work duties and responsibilities and how these fit within responsible management of their work unit.
  • Manages work time effectively to complete tasks on time, budget, and to client/stakeholder satisfaction.
  • Applies cost effective practices when plans change, even if prior approval had been granted.
  • Understands own impact on the organization’s resources.

2. Identifies and advocates for resource effectiveness

  • Promotes the need for and models the effective utilization of workplace resources.
  • Obtains ongoing information and feedback about resource utilization to make timely, effective decisions.
  • Controls costs efficiently in own area of accountability.
  • Respectfully questions the way things are done and make
  • Oversees and ensures that team member activities are completed using an effective and efficient use of resources, without compromising the quality of processes, programs, or services.
  • Manages budget allocated for specific tasks or team.
  • Organizes and co-ordinates the efficient allocation of resources within the team.
  • Makes resources available to other areas in the organization as needed, without compromising the needs or budget of the work unit.
  • Organizes appropriate personnel to maximize efficiency when handling competing priorities or time-sensitive issues.

3. Makes links between sustainability and success of the GNWT

  • Has a general understanding of the fundamentals of business success and the role that sustainability of financial, human, and natural resources plays.
  • Has a good understanding of the GNWT Public Service strategy and challenges, and can identify how sustainability issues can impact specific units and areas.
  • Has a systematic approach to mapping and understanding the department’s social and environmental impacts and the stakeholders affected.
  • Uses performance management, budget tracking and other resource management systems to optimize results transparently.
  • Applies strategies designed to maximize the value and efficiency of financial, human, and natural resources.
  • Monitors rigorous accountability systems for the management and evaluation of financial, human, and natural resources.

4. Improves sustainability practices

  • Has a comprehensive perspective of the GNWT Public Service’s total impact on society in the Territory.
  • Uses a comprehensive knowledge of strategy and impacts to identify and prioritize the issues that are most “material” to the department in the short, mid and long-term.
  • Sets performance standards, monitors progress and intervenes at an early stage to ensure deliverables of all resources meet agreed-on quality, timeframes, and budget constraints.
  • Creates contingency plans for problems and situations that might occur.
  • Designs and applies strategies to the department designed to maximize the value and efficiency of financial, human, and natural resources.
  • Develops and monitors rigorous accountability systems at the departmental level for the management and evaluation of financial, human, and natural resources.

5. Develops, implements and monitors systems

  • Develops and maintains systems that help oversee a range of significant programs that involve time-sensitive issues and limited resources.
  • Oversees and ensures the continual improvement of the GNWT’s Public Service practices and systems for responsible and sustainable practices and related standards (e.g., financial, safety, health, environment, and social responsibility).
  • Integrates ethics, safety, health, financial, environment, and/or social responsibility into business decisions, resulting in innovative ways to improve the GNWT Public Service and contribute to the greater good.
  • Uses systems thinking and tools such as scenario planning to help managers understand sustainable management as a strategic framework for identifying risks and opportunities.
  • Reviews and responds constructively to the reported results of audits and assessments. Promotes innovative approaches to deal with resource constraints.
  • Monitors the performance of the department and seeks to improve sustainability practices of financial, human, and natural resources.

6. Plans for the future sustainability of the GNWT

  • Actively supports the organization’s engagement in projects or initiatives that draw upon the GNWT’s Public Service capabilities to benefit society and/or the environment.
  • Considers and plans for how present policies, processes and methods might be affected by increasing globalization, smaller talent pools, climate change, and strategic resource scarcity.
  • Foresees future trends related to globalization, changing demographics, shrinking talent pools, and climate change, and works with specialized teams to develop strategies to meet future challenges.
  • Provides active leadership in effective management and stewardship of resources.
  • Uses innovative methods to create a climate that encourages effective management and stewardship of resources.
  • Aligns the structure and/or operations of the department to better meet long-term sustainability objectives.