Skills provision in Swedish public administration The Swedish Government's political objectives, strategy and measures Address at the OECD/PUMA symposium Learning Government in Paris, 4 February 2003 Kerstin Borg Wallin, Director-General, Swedish National Council for Quality and Development

Main content of the address The Swedish Government's objectives and strategy concerning the Swedish form of Knowledge Management Action plans and measures How Swedish central-government agencies work Current issues

Skills Individuals' ability and desire to perform specific tasks by applying their knowledge and abilities.

Skills provision A process of continuously ensuring a supply of the right skills for attaining the objectives of the organisation's work and meeting its needs.

Knowledge can be of various types Knowledge that can be described and identified, such as vocational know- how acquired through formal training Knowledge that cannot be clearly identified and described - 'silent knowledge'

Knowledge management The organised, purposeful and methodical steps an organisation takes to keep relevant sources of knowledge accessible, irrespective of the presence of the people who brought the knowledge to the organisation

Swedish public administration Size of agency No. of agencies and percentage of total employees employees 1,000-1,999 employees 2,000-9,999 employees 10, ,235 employees % 56 24% 17 7% 19 8% No. of employees and percentage of total 4 2% % % % % % Total: 231 agencies with 217,493 employees (September 2001)

The Swedish Government's strategy for skills provision 1. Performance management and annual follow-up 2. Far-reaching delegation, to the agency heads and managements of decisions on HOW to conduct activities 3. An action programme for administrative policy entitled ‘Public Administration in the Service of Democracy’

The Swedish Government's strategy for skills provision 1. Performance management and annual follow-up 2. Far-reaching delegation, to the agency heads and managements of decisions on HOW to conduct activities 3. An action programme for administrative policy entitled ‘Public Administration in the Service of Democracy’

Central Government Administration in Public Service (Government Bill 1997/98:136) The agencies must carry out their assigned tasks in a manner characterised by - high quality, - openness, - well-motivated and skilled employees, - competent managers and - a capacity for change.

The Swedish Government's strategy for skills provision 1. Performance management and annual follow-up 2. Far-reaching delegation, to the agency heads and managements of decisions on HOW to conduct activities 3. An action programme for administrative policy entitled ‘Public Administration in the Service of Democracy’

The Swedish Government's strategy for skills provision 1. Performance management and annual follow-up 2. Far-reaching delegation, to the agency heads and managements of decisions on HOW to conduct activities 3. An action programme for administrative policy entitled ‘Public Administration in the Service of Democracy’

The Swedish National Council for Quality and Development works for more efficient public administration in the citizens' service. The Council offers government agencies support in the form of knowledge, exchange of experience, and methods in the areas of work development, administrative know- how, managerial development and the provision of skills.

The state as a model employer Generation shift and its opportunities Skills An adequate supply of managerial skills Ethics

Measures Agency governance adapted to activities Government's policy for state leadership Training of board members Follow-up of skills provision Evaluation of the employer-policy reform Opinion surveys among staff

Our functions: examples Managerial training and development programmes Master's Degree courses Induction programmes for young administrators Quality training courses Forging links between researchers and public administration Investigating the causes of mobility among young employees Surveying quality work in public administration Devising a model and method for self-evaluation of skills provision

The Swedish Government’s Managerial Resource Policy Public Administration in the Service of Democracy