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CIPMS |
Agency AssessmentAgency assessment is the extent to which an agency is able to meet the articulated needs of its clients. (Source: MTCU, Agency Assessment of Organizational Capacity Guide for Literacy and Basic Skills (LBS) Delivery Agencies, Draft, June 2007, pg. 1.) Agency assessment is an important component of CIPMS. In fact, research shows that it is a key element of best practices for CIPMS. It incorporates many of the activities we have already been doing, such as data collection, data analysis, outcomes-based evaluation and strategic planning into one process. Instead of a group of isolated activities, all of the components of program management come together to form a cohesive process that ensures careful planning happens, the appropriate activities are put in place, goals are set, the results of those activities are monitored and evaluated, changes are made as needed to bring about improved efficiency and effectiveness, and new goals and targets are set as needed. Research, and the Job Connect experience, have also demonstrated that agency assessment can improve the quality of services offered. A common assessment method can help establish a means for province-wide analysis and provide comparative data. An assessment tool can help us identify areas of concern and initiate change when needed. It also shows successes and provides a way to document our processes and procedures rather than just having a “sense” that it is time to make a change. Agency assessment is not new. Literacy practitioners often discuss what is happening in our programs, what we are achieving, what we would like to achieve and how we can get better results. Using a specific assessment tool, however, like so much of the overall CIPMS process, turns this informal action into a deliberate, purposeful and documented effort. Some agencies have had continuous improvement processes in place for some time now. Others have not. Agencies who already have a process in place can continue to use their current practices if they are effective. To help those agencies who have not yet established a process, MTCU released an Agency Assessment Guide and an accompanying Agency Assessment Tool in Fall 2007. These documents can be found here: http://www.nald.ca/litweb/province/on/litbasic/cipms/docs/MTCU Guide.doc (MS Word document - 160k) |
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