Audit of Integrated Human Resource Planning

Table of Contents (February 2009)

• Executive Summary
• Statement of Assurance
• Introduction
• Findings and Recommendations
• Overall Conclusions
• Management Response and Action Plan  (March 2009)

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Executive Summary

The Human Resources Planning and Policy Framework was identified as an audit priority in the 2008-11 Risk Based Audit Plan, centered on the recognition of the importance of human capital in achieving goals.

The objective of the audit was to provide assurance on the adequacy, effectiveness and completeness of the human resources planning and policy framework for Western Economic Diversification Canada (WD).

The audit addressed the issues of recruitment, retention, learning and succession planning as it related to business planning.

The audit covered the 2007-08 planning cycle through to the current year planning cycle. The audit was conducted primarily through interviews with key planning personnel in headquarters and the regions. Documents were reviewed as part of the audit process including, but not limited to: WD integrated Corporate and Regional Business Plans, the Canada Public Service Agency Integrated Planning Guides, and the Report of the Expert Panel on Integrated Business and Human Resource Planning in the Federal Public Service.

Findings

WD has made significant progress in human resource planning since WD developed its first Corporate Business Plan in 2007-08. Human resource planning has evolved from a stand-alone document developed in isolation of corporate priorities into the current integrated version.

In addition, WD has strengthened the linkages between the priorities of the Clerk of the Privy Council and those operational priorities at both the corporate and regional level and WD updates those linkages annually.

The department has made advances regarding succession planning, learning, employee orientation, communication of human resource policies to employees, and in the development of a mentoring program.

There were areas where WD can make improvements to strengthen the process, and those recommendations are outlined in this report.