T - Department of Defence

S A S O L D I E Remployee empowermentThe DOD becomes a planningand risk-intelligent departmentBy Cpl Ally RakomaPhotos: S Sgt Lebogang TlhaoleThe Chief Director StrategicManagement, Mr DumisaniDladla, hosted the DODProfessional DevelopmentWorkshop on Planning,Reporting and RiskManagement at the Peace MissionTraining Centre in Thaba Tshwanebetween 4 and 8 April 2011.Providing DOD planners or planning functionaries withthe required skills to ensure proper planning, reportingand the importance of integrating risk managementwith the DOD planning process.The aim of the workshop was to provideDOD planners or planning functionarieswith the required skills to ensure properplanning, reporting and the importanceof integrating risk management with theDOD planning process.The workshop facilitator, Adv NandiNtsaluba, Director Strategic Planning,welcomed the workshop participantsand said that the workshop marked thebeginning of a new era in DODPlanning. She said that Planning was asphere that ought to function like a welloiledmachine, working in close co-operationwith all spheres of the Department,Services and Divisions to achieve thegoals set by the developmental stateagenda.Adv Ntsaluba said: "We are indeed writinga new chapter. Therein lies theincreasing significance of the turnaroundstrategy as a blueprint that will ensuregood governance with the full complianceof our Government RegulatoryFramework."In his opening address the Chief DirectorStrategic Management said that the hostingof the workshop would help refinethe practice of planning, balanced bud-V Adm Johannes Mudimu, Chief of the SA Navy, receives a Certificateof Appreciation from Ms Ellen Netshifhefhe, Assistant DirectorDefence Planning, during the closing ceremony of the workshop.geting, risks, audit control, the performanceexpectations of the organisation,asset management, accountability and balanceddimensions that enhance systems tomonitor and assess progress andreporting.Mr Dladla also reminded the participantsthat the Minister of Defence and MilitaryVeterans, Ms Lindiwe Sisulu, had signedthe delivery agreement of the President.The signing constituted our Minister'scommitment to creating a responsive,accountable, effective and efficient DOD.He said that it was this directive from ourCommander-in-Chief and our Ministerthat made this 2011 planning workshopunique.He added: "We are building a performance-orienteddepartment by improvingplanning, reporting and risk management,as well as monitoring andevaluation. This also involves identifyingthe key outputs and activitiesreguired for the achievement of eachoutcome. It also involves identifyingappropriate indicators to measureprogress and set targets for indicators."Good practice in organisational developmentdictates that the organisationalstructure of a department should bealigned with its strategic objectives. Thisis in line with the Public ServiceRegulation, which stipulates that theorganisational structure of a department26• J U N E 2 0 1 1