> Inventory and Timber
Supply Analysis Working Group
ITAC Business Process Mapping Workshop
November 22, 2005
The Challenge
Inventory, monitoring and analysis work in the MPB affected
areas is presently delivered through several different funding
envelopes: Forests For Tomorrow (FFT), Federal funding,
base funding, the Forest Investment Account (FIA) and a
few smaller miscellaneous funding sources. Coordination
of projects is problematic across these various envelopes,
from inception, through approval, tracking and delivery.
As well, there is no single clear set of selection criteria
with which to review proposals and prioritize activities
in a consistent manner. In addition, there are a number
of other challenges as follows:
- Capacity/resources are stretched and workload and expectations
are high;
- Program alignment is required across the different funding
envelopes;
- A delivery model for inventory in MPB areas has not
yet been developed: should this be FIA, a "hybrid" delivery
model or other?
A business process mapping exercise, sponsored by the Chief
Forester and involving ITAC members and FIA representatives,
was conducted November 15 as the first step in meeting these
challenges.
Objectives of Business Process Mapping
This work has mapped out the current business situation
with respect to inventory and analysis, covering how the
various 'envelopes' of FFT, FIA, Federal funding and base
interrelate (please see Inventory Session Notes on this
website). The results from this one-day workshop compliment
the higher level business process mapping that is already
being conducted across Ministry business areas and has followed
the Ministry's accepted methodology outlined in the Continuous
Improvement Initiative.
The objectives of this workshop were as follows:
- Map the current situation, identify gaps & areas for
improvement;
- Identify all relevant MPB related business drivers;
- Identify & confirm selection criteria in conjunction
with business area priorities;
- Identify roles & responsibilities; and
- Determine next steps for improvement.
Results
A set of process maps showing the current situation has
now been delivered together with a summary of gaps and overlaps
and identification of areas of opportunities and improvement.
Until now, nobody has had a clear picture across these envelopes
in order to manage projects as efficiently as possible and
meet the expectations and targets in the Service Plan. Determining
how the various 'envelopes' interrelate, or don't, should
help us to determine where things need to align better in
future in order to:
- Set project priorities and activity priorities;
- Review and approve projects based on an integrated set
of criteria; and
- Insure there are no overlaps/duplications or gaps as
MPB inventory and analysis related work proceeds.
These findings will be used as the basis for design of
a streamlined business process, based on well defined business
criteria and using a set of consistent criteria with clear
roles and responsibilities. Building this improved process
is scheduled for February 2006 and will include ITAC members
and other key stakeholders.
