DESA's STAFF SPEAK-UP: MANAGING FOR EFFICIENCY AND EFFECTIVENESS

B. Managing for efficiency and effectiveness (Summary of the issue raised by DESA Staff)

• Managers are expected to accurately judge the amount of time and resources needed to accomplish a task and to match task to skills.

• Accurate and efficient management of resources, including human resources, is the responsibility of all managers. (some staff refer to the disproportionate distribution of workload as a source of dissatisfactions). It is perceived that because supervisors overburden staff members who are seen as performing well and in a timely manner, work is not evenly distributed. Staff feel that no reward is provided to those who perform well. Younger staff members, in particular, voiced a deep feeling of under-utilization, which leads to disempowerment and lack of motivation.

• Various units in the Department reported on sub-standard management practices and abuse of power by managers. Some of the contributions cited the devolution of power to managers and Directors which took place some years ago as having created major mismanagement as it was not accompanied by an adequate system of checks and balances.

• The related perception of abuse and impunity is widespread. For example, some staff members have alleged that their career prospects have been limited by supervisors or directors who have consistently side-lined them. Others have reported that posts have been moved around to create pre-tailored opportunities for promotion. Some staff members have also reported that training and official travel have not always been authorized in a consistent or transparent manner, but rather as privileges or favors granted to selected staff.