Environment Canada's science strategy 2014-2019: chapter 4

4. Path forward

The Strategy’s successful implementation will rely on the commitment of staff from all parts of the Department. In keeping with the consultative process used to develop the Strategy, engagement with staff will also constitute an important part of its implementation.

Implementation will involve developing and adopting detailed internal work plans as operational companions to the Strategy, which will be linked with annual departmental planning and will put the priorities and mechanisms into practice to achieve the objectives outlined in the Strategy. These plans will assign responsibility for initiatives and set clear timelines, targets and indicators to measure progress. Wherever possible, the plans will leverage existing metrics and reporting processes to avoid duplication. They will be periodically reviewed and updated as required.

The first step toward implementation will be to update terms of reference for existing departmental committees and put in place new committees as described in the previous section. These committees will then assign responsibility for specific initiatives, and will oversee development of work plans and reporting on progress.

Effective implementation also means having means to measure performance and incorporate best practices and lessons learned. By regularly reporting on results and by facilitating communication across the department, the Department will be able to make adjustments to the details of the Strategy as required. This Strategy is an opportunity to achieve new goals and demonstrate successes, while minimizing additional reporting burden and collaborating more effectively.