The Cayman Islands Civil Service launched consultations for the development a five-year strategic planning process, on Cayman Brac, on 12 October, 2015, in an exercise that brought together some 60 civil servants and external stakeholders.

The Brac consultations are part of a series of “Summits” for the strategic planning process, which has been branded as “Reimaging the Civil Service”. The summits follow a methodology that promotes engagement and participation from civil servants at all levels, as they work alongside external stakeholders to identify moments when the civil service has been at its best, as the basis for improvement.

“By focusing on “what works” we can make a shift in the civil service, so that those moments of excellence can become business as usual,” the Hon. Franz Manderson, Deputy Governor, told participants.

A total of six Summits are planned, with various focus groups, between 12 October and 13 November, 2015. The largest session is in Grand Cayman on Wednesday 21 October, with 200 participants expected. Around 30 of the civil service’s frontline employees are expected to attend a Customer Experience Summit on Thursday 22 October. Little Cayman is also included, and the SRIU team will visit with civil servants and residents there on 13 November, 2015.

Mr. Manderson joined the Strategic Reforms Implementation Unit (SRIU) for the full day on Cayman Brac, and participated in all of the activities.

“The highlight for me was having the opportunity to hear so many inspirational stories, and to see the commitment and pride that this exercise generated among civil servants. We all want a world class civil service; we needed a strategy to get us there, which motivates civil servants to do their very best every day, ”Mr. Manderson said.

Another participant, Customs K9/Marine/Enforcement Officer, Anthony Terry, described the Brac gathering as, “refreshing and enlightening.”

“To know that our Civil Service is proactively seeking out input from its members to help shape its own future speaks volumes. I left the Summit feeling humbled and extremely honored for the opportunity afforded and I’m eagerly anticipating the finished product,” Mr. Terry stated.

Following the Cayman Brac launch, 21 senior civil servants met on Grand Cayman on Thursday 15 October. Meanwhile on Friday, a stakeholder summit brought together 18 customers, individuals from the private sector and representatives from SAGCs.

NWDA Manager Training and Development, Dianne Conolly, asserted, “Participating in the summit was inspiring and productive. It was particularly empowering to know that I am contributing to positive change within my organisation, the Civil Service. The shared vision of where we are headed has created a passion which, with the support of all, can become a reality.”

Head of Human Resources at Maples and Calder, Morven Bodden described the summits as, “an exercise in innovative and outside-the-box thinking.”

“It was refreshing to be a part of a diverse group of private and public sector individuals with a mandate to focus on our positive civil service experiences, developing dynamic strategic statements designed to reimagine our ideal civil service,” Ms. Bodden said.