Admin's Operations Planning & Reporting Process

The Department of Administration's Operations Planning Process is founded on the principles of results-based management. Results-based management is a life-cycle approach to management that integrates strategy, people, resources, processes and measurements to improve decision-making, transparency and accountability. The approach focuses on achieving outcomes, implementing performance measurement, learning and changing, and reporting performance.

Each phase of the management life cycle is explained below.

Planning

Planning involves the articulation of strategic choices in light of past performance and includes information on how an organization intends to deliver on its priorities and achieve associated results.

Implementation and Monitoring

Ongoing performance measurement and periodic evaluation are key tools through which progress is determined. Performance measurement and evaluation present valuable opportunities to learn and adjust so that the desired results may be achieved.

Reporting

The final stage of the life-cycle approach involves reporting on results through the provision of integrated financial and non-financial information. Results-based information is used for both internal management purposes and for external accountability to the Governor and citizens. The reporting phase also offers managers and stakeholders an opportunity for reflecting on what has worked and what has not: a process of learning and adjusting that feeds into the next planning cycle.

Admin's Operations Planning Process

Managers in each of Admin's 11 divisions/offices establish outcome-based operations goals that relate to the specific business of their organization and that will assist in continuous improvement efforts. These division operations goals align with the department's mission to provide the best value in government administrative services, which we do by emphasizing:

  • Customer Satisfaction, serving our customers in a professional and ethical manner, producing valuable results;
  • Continuous Improvement, reducing costs and cycle times, optimizing performance and delivering innovative business solutions at every opportunity; and
  • Employee Engagement, enabling and encouraging all staff to help achieve our mission.

After the end of each quarter, managers report division activity to department leadership. The report must include the identification and description of each goal; the most recent outcomes (metrics) of measurement for each goal; an explanation for any significant variance in the measurement and a description of plans for corrective action; financial condition; and one or two highlights of division accomplishments or work efforts that are reflective of the department's mission and goals.

A second phase of this reporting process is quarterly meetings between division management and the department's executive leadership: the commissioner, deputy commissioner, assistant commissioner and finance director. These meetings are an opportunity for all involved to reflect on the goals and achievement toward them, examine possible methods for focusing or correcting work efforts, and celebrating accomplishments.
Department of Administration  •  200 Administration Building  •  50 Sherburne Avenue  •  Saint Paul, MN 55155  •  651/201-2555  •  Privacy Statement  • Contact Admin Minnesota

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