7/28/2019 Managing Transitions Ppt Metin

1/14

Career Executive Service Board

CES Circle

Managing and Coping with Transitions

ROLANDO L. METIN

Diamond Hotel, Manila

May 20, 2010

7/28/2019 Managing Transitions Ppt Metin

2/14

Managing and Coping with Transitions

All of us have personally undergone many transitions in our life

During the past 9 years, we saw frequent changes in the headship of

departments, bureaus and other offices.

On a less personal dimension, our country went through several

transitionsfrom being a Spanish colony for 377 years to becomingAmerican possession in almost 50 years and briefly being under

Japanese control and administration.

7/28/2019 Managing Transitions Ppt Metin

3/14

Managing and Coping with Transitions

Managed transition from 1935 to 1945 when we had a

Commonwealth Government which was the prelude to our beingnation independent from external control. We had 10 years to

undertake lessons in self-rule and prepare for being a republic.

Change over from 21-year Marcos presidency to President Cory after

which we saw difficult transitions in many sectors of government,including the military.

7/28/2019 Managing Transitions Ppt Metin

4/14

Managing and Coping with Transitions

Outside the Philippines, we witnessed during the past 20 years thetransition of socialist economies to capitalism, including Poland,

Russia, Vietnam and China and making faster economic growth

possible.

From the very personal experiences to the more political, we cantherefore say that transitions are not new to us. In fact, we have lived

with many transitions.

7/28/2019 Managing Transitions Ppt Metin

5/14

Managing and Coping with Transitions

Soon we will have another one, which many would consider a major

transition after nine years. A new President will be coming in. Newcabinet members and secretaries and other senior officials will be

named and will start coming to your offices.

In spite of positive expectations and our many experiences in personal

transitions and in change in administration, transitions create anxietyand temporary barriers. They may even create uncertainties and

temporary instability in the organization.

7/28/2019 Managing Transitions Ppt Metin

6/14

Managing and Coping with Transitions

Anxiety and feeling of uncertainty arise from the unknown.

Feeling of anxiety is mutual between those who are in the various

offices and the in-comers.

7/28/2019 Managing Transitions Ppt Metin

7/14

Managing and Coping with Transitions

Information breaks barriers and lessen anxieties. The newcomers

certainly need information that will make them understand theorganization and its operations at least from an initial birds eye view.

Information focused on the basics, rather than creating information

overload which could not be readily digested anyway.

7/28/2019 Managing Transitions Ppt Metin

8/14

Managing and Coping with Transitions

Basic information

- Organizationcore mandates, the component units, extent

of coverage

- Personnelkey officials, number of personnel, where are

they in the organization

- Major Programs and Projects

- Budget

7/28/2019 Managing Transitions Ppt Metin

9/14

Managing and Coping with Transitions

Preparing separate sets of basic information like

- profile of present key officialsdivision chiefs, projectmanagers, directors, assistant secretaries, undersecretaries

- briefs on selected projects

- on-going partnerships and inter-agency collaboration;

- existing contractual commitments

- unresolved and emerging problems.

Other info may pertain to the physical assetsbuildings, vehicles,

aircrafts, real estate, etc.

7/28/2019 Managing Transitions Ppt Metin

10/14

Managing and Coping with Transitions

Transitions can actually be managed. Teams are usually created by

outgoing secretaries or heads to handle the details of the transition

work like preparing briefing documents, coordinating with a

counterpart team named by the incoming officials, scheduling of

briefing sessions, and walking through the offices.

Well-managed transition can reduce or even eliminate anxieties,

break barriers and create an environment that slowly unfolds the

unknown; clarifies expectations and ushers in new relationships.

7/28/2019 Managing Transitions Ppt Metin

11/14

Managing and Coping with Transitions

Career officers, who may have own share of anxieties and feeling of

uncertainties, will soon realize that such feelings are largelyunfounded.

You acquired your positions based on fitness and required

qualifications and have stayed on because of your professionalism and

capacity to serve the people, in spite of internal difficulties andunwanted externalities.

7/28/2019 Managing Transitions Ppt Metin

12/14

Managing and Coping with Transitions

Incoming administration creates expectations for very positive

changes.

Anchored on two campaign messages of the incoming President:

Ang Daang Matuwid and Kung walang corrupt, walang mahirap

which are expected to be the hallmark of the transition.

Messages set the tone of good governance where integrity is

highlighted together with competence and the continuing ability to

the deliver public services with accountability.

7/28/2019 Managing Transitions Ppt Metin

13/14

Managing and Coping with Transitions

Taking the matuwid na daan and dismantling the web andopportunities for corruption are the most important transition

After all, these are what the bureaucracy should be: Matuwid and

walang corrupt. And the essence of good governance.

7/28/2019 Managing Transitions Ppt Metin

14/14

Managing and Coping with Transitions

Thank You