research sheet

Public Institution Research FACT SHEET OUTLINE

TITLE – Institution: Jurisdiction (10 words) 1 The objective of the assignment is to learn why public institutions emerge and develop over time and how they function within the broader public sector. Not all information elements in the Outline may apply depending upon the nature and scope of the public institution chosen.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY (90 words) 2  Institution – W5 (who, what, when, where, why), central issue  Purpose – Fact Sheet research objective/audience, action required, outcome expected

HISTORY (200 words) 3 The search for pertinent issues begins with identifying deviations from the original expectations set for the public institution and encompasses new problems that emerged subsequent to its creation.

Origins  Institution – name of federal/provincial/municipal/Indigenous/foreign/international entity  Founding – date, events, reason  Impetus – enabling authority, leadership, stakeholders  Policy priorities – government, special interests, oversight bodies

Development  Brief chronology – major changes, milestones, public announcements  Leadership changes – political, head, key people  Current status – ongoing (with/without modifications), discontinued (date, reason), implications

PROFILE (500 words) 10 Information should be provided from published reports for the most recent full year of operation.

Mandate  Mission  Vision  Values  Expected outcomes  Key strategies

Governance  Organizational form (and model where applicable) – ministry, agency, corporation, third party  Structure – political oversight, board governance, management, organization chart  Authority – legislation, regulations, by-laws, policy, agreements

Professor John Wilkins: Course Director PPAS 3190 B Public Administration

 Accountability – reporting, monitoring and evaluation, audit, consequences  Strategic relationships – counterparts/competitors, partners, networks

Program  Services – public, regulatory/enforcement, scientific/technical, parliamentary/judicial, common, policy  Jurisdiction – local, regional, national, international, other  Clientele – citizens, business, civil society, government, other  Choice – mandatory, optional, mixed, other  Delivery channels – locations, online, telephone, mobile, other

Budget  Context – economic growth, government restraint, relevant forecasts  Sources of funds – appropriations, transfers, grants, own-source revenues, cost recovery, other  Uses of funds – salaries and benefits, operating expenditures, capital assets, reserves, dividends, other  Financial viability – cash flows, surpluses/deficits, equity/debt, value for money, other

Employment  Staffing levels – full-time/part-time, core/flexible  Staffing categories – management, professional, technical, administrative, other  Labour relations – public service unions, collective agreements, private/voluntary sector, other

PERFORMANCE (200 words) 3 Only the most salient issues should be flagged for future consideration.

Assessment  Key results – major contributions to outcomes expected  Evaluations and audits – areas for improvement, progress made, outstanding decisions

Conclusion  Lessons learned – good policy/practice, prospects for change/innovation  Next steps – priorities for action, specific implications for Briefing Paper or Discussion Paper

BIBLIOGRAPHY ( words) 1  Works cited – publications, web sites, databases (alphabetical listing by author/year)

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Total (1,000 words Maximum Length) 20

Professor John Wilkins: Course Director PPAS 3190 B Public Administration