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| Announcing
the arrival of CSS-Vital.org |
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The
highly anticipated birth of the Centre for Shared Services
– Vital.org (CSS) on 1 April 2006 was an occasion marked
by delightful surprises. The staff were showered with
lovely gifts, invited to tea and more!
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“The gestation period for a normal baby is nine months.
For CSS, the gestation period was almost 12 months! That’s
because we had a 350-pounder to deliver. It was a huge
exercise.... There have been moments of anxiety, times
of pain,” said CSS Chief Executive Lim Hup Seng with a
touch of humour.
The Deputy Secretary of the Ministry of Finance (MOF)
was speaking to all who had gathered to officially welcome
MOF’s newest department on 5 July 2006.
The formation of CSS is a significant move to bring about
integration in the public sector by pooling people together
to achieve greater productivity and service excellence.
“CSS has set for itself a vision to be the vital
partner of high-performance organisations,” said Mr Lim.
“It is the vision of the whole body of people in
CSS who have come together to express what they wish for
CSS and for themselves.”
Located in the Ministry of National Development Building
along Maxwell Road, CSS provides human resource and finance
services for government agencies and statutory boards.
These services include accounts receivable, accounts payable,
general ledger maintenance, fixed asset accounting and
the administration of appointments, training, payroll,
claims, compensation and benefits.
CSS aims to achieve greater economies of scale and save
the Public Service up to $4.5 million a year. Other benefits
include enhanced service delivery to agencies and professional
development of staff.
The idea for CSS was conceived early last year and announced
by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in his 2005 Budget Speech
in Parliament.
Permanent Secretary (Finance) Lim Siong Guan proposed
making the transition in two stages. From May to June
2006, some 350 staff from 18 government agencies and statutory
boards were transferred to CSS. Two hundred more staff
from 19 agencies and statutory boards will join the family
next year.
The staff were warmly welcomed and have enthusiastically
embraced the changes.
Said Leader of Finance Services Kavitha Subash, who was
from the National Environment Agency: “My new job scope
mainly involves approving payments. This is good as I
am specialising in one area now and can concentrate on
understanding issues related to payments better and can
think of ways to improve our processes.”
Manager of Payroll & Claims Selvarani T. Pillai, who had
transferred from the Ministry of Education, is pleased
with her job scope, which has expanded. She remarked:
“A full professional life involves broad-based experiences
and CSS presents a wide range of opportunities in this
area.”
Hopes and expectations for CSS are high. Said Mrs Lim
Hwee Hua, Minister of State for Finance and Transport,
in her address at the official launch event: “CSS should
do better and do more for the agencies than what the agencies
could have done for themselves.”
She urged CSS to deliver faster, more convenient and customer-oriented
services by making more services available online and
finding ways to innovate and transform the way it works.
Sharing CSS’ plans to provide value-added services, Director
of Operations Wong Wai Mun affirmed: “CSS will be looking
to introduce effective and efficient solutions for more
corporate functions, such as recruitment administration,
travel management, fixed asset management and procurement
administration.
“In addition, we plan to provide
more data and information to help the agencies make better
decisions on the policies and strategies for HR, finance
and other corporate support functions.”
| Many
engagement activities were
conducted to prepare for the
shift. They included “Build
Our CSS” workshops, CE tea
sessions and brainstorming
sessions on the mission, vision,
values and code of practice.
The staff also attended personal
mastery courses fully sponsored
by CSS. |
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| Operation
codenamed "OPS HARMONY"
saw staff from 18 agencies
relocating to MND Building
from 15 May to 26 June 2006.
The well-planned and executed
operation ensured that there
was no disruption to the HR
and finance services provided
to the agencies. The attention
paid to details and the positive
experience won the confidence
of staff and agencies. |
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CSS officers were thrilled
to receive a welcome pack
containing many goodies such
as chocolates printed with
the CSS logo, photographs
of the new office to bring
back and share with their
families, the organisation
chart, useful contact numbers,
a transport and eating map
of the vicinity, and a stalk
of carnation symbolising growth
and new beginnings. |
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All staff went for an orientation
session which covered the
practical aspects of settling
into a new work environment,
as well as reinforced CSS’
mission, vision
and values. |
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At 4 pm, everyone was invited
to a welcome tea. The informal
gathering was
a good chance for all to mingle
and for management to check
if everything was
in order. |
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Director of People Matters
met up with the staff to share
development plans and to get
feedback on their transition. |
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By Challenge Editorial
Team
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