University Level BSC Document Tabled for Discussion
The balanced score card is a strategic planning and management system that is used extensively in business and industry, government, and nonprofit organizations worldwide. It is used to align business activities to the vision and strategy of the organization, improve internal and external communications, and monitor organization performance against strategic goals. It also allows all participants in the system to understand how their performance contributes to the achievement of the organization`s objectives, and help align the organization`s vision with every day activities of the staff.
In view of its necessity to measure the effects of the newly designed processes the Ethiopian Civil Service University formed high-level corporate Balanced Scorecard committee representing the critical drivers of future success of the University corporate entity.
Consistent with Scorecard theory, for the past few months the University exerted a tough and extensive effort and finalized the BSC document. Following this a discussion conducted on August 6, 2010. The University President, Vice Presidents, the steering team, directors, department heads, and team leaders participated in the discussion.
The main purpose of the discussion was to clarify the main features of the BSC document, to enrich the document via suggestion and comments of the participants, and to anticipate ways of cascading at institutes, centers and individual levels.
Ato Abate Zewdu, Institutional Planning and Assessment Team Leader presented the document. His presentation focused on the concept of BSC, process of developing BSC in the University, steps in the BSC building, identified Perspectives, strategic themes and results , strategic objectives, measures, initiatives and targets of the perspectives, and how to cascade from University scorecard to institutes, centers, teams and individual level.
Consequently participants forwarded their comments, questions and suggestion. The University president and the two vise presidents including the steering committee members reflected their opinions and answer the questions raised by participants.
According to Ato Abate, the next task will be cascading the balanced scorecard to businesses, support units and individuals. For this purpose trainings are scheduled to employees of the University at all levels in the coming days. Cascading the Scorecard is critical to ensuring that everyone at the University understands how they may contribute to the achievement of the University overall strategies.