CSIRO’s new missions portfolio, a cross-business unit manufacturing push and an extension of the digital transformation program are among big winners of the Annual Performance and Investment Review (APaIR) process as Business Units and Enterprise Support Services now grapple with funding allocations.
Meanwhile, applications for over 300 work assignments advertised via the Interchange platform are now being considered.
In an email to staff announcing the headline APaIR outcomes, CSIRO Chief Executive Larry Marshall said that the organisation must continue to anticipate and respond to trends and changes, amidst global and national disruption, in order “continue to solve the greatest challenges for Australia.”
Citing CSIRO’s success last year in responding to the twin crisis of bushfire and COVID-19, Dr Marshall said the organisation’s role “as Australia’s national science agency was crystal clear as we stepped up to support our country both in responding to crises and in driving recovery and resilience.”
“In October, this performance was supported by the Government with a funding commitment in the Federal Budget to accommodate any shortfall in our revenue as a result of COVID-19, which created the need for us to approach APaIRs differently,” Dr Marshall said.
Dr Marshall outlined five headline outcomes that will be guaranteed central funding and corporate focus from the Leadership Team.
In a recent meeting with Staff Association representatives, CSIRO Chief of Staff Mark Bazzacco said that Business Units and Enterprise Support Services functions have been “provided their indicative funding for the next four years, based on the decisions of the Executive Team and appropriation funding commitments from the last Federal Budget.”
“All Business Units have either have had their strategic plans endorsed by the Executive Team or are making some adjustments before final endorsement in coming weeks,” Mr Bazzacco said.
“Staff should expect further communications on APaIR outcomes and implications from their Business Units.”
Mr Bazzaccco said that Business Units are also considering CSIRO’s overall property strategy in their decision making.
Meanwhile, applications have closed for the second round of assignments and opportunities advertised on the Interchange Platform.
Interchange is an initiative of the Business Transition Program and has been described by CSIRO variously as ‘an internal talent marketplace,’ ‘career assignment program’ and an ‘internal career match-making service.’
In comments to an all staff webinar, CSIRO Executive Director Katharine Paroz hailed the second round as a success.
“We’ve had over 100 opportunities, projects, and more than 300 individual registrations, which is a great reflection actually on the interest and the demand for this type of program.”
“Opening the assignments up in this way to more people has provided more opportunities for people to contribute their ideas and to contribute to problem solving, having experiences that are outside just their direct area of work.”
“So, we think Interchange is here to stay as a concept, and rather than doing rounds in the future, the ideas is that it will be more dynamic in terms of as assignments come up, we’d be posting them, rather than doing rounds, as we have done up until now,” Ms Paroz said.
