SDS Strategic Directions & Solutions

CA

• Western Economic Diversification Canada (WD)
• Canadian Council for Human Resources in the Environment Industry (CCHREI)
• Fisheries and Oceans Canada
• Cargill Limited
• Employment and Training Services (Manitoba Advanced Education and Training)
• Workers Compensation Board of Manitoba
• Assiniboine Credit Union
• UMA Engineering Ltd., Manitoba and North Western Ontario
• City of Winnipeg

A) Qualitative Evaluation of the Innovation and Community Investment Program (ICIP) for Western Economic Diversification Canada (WD)

In February 2004, SDS Strategic Directions & Solutions was retained to conduct a qualitative evaluation assessing the relevance, success and effectiveness of the ICIP program to date. The Innovation and Community Investment Program (ICIP) is WDs main mechanism for addressing rural innovation opportunities and for assisting rural communities in Western Canada that face challenges due to their reliance on the resource based and service economies. Projects carried out under ICIP are focused on specific issues and opportunities grouped around three major themes: Community Innovation Strategy, Innovative Technologies, and Skills Development.

Evaluation data was collected through: a detailed review of administrative records, files and secondary sources; telephone interviews with WD Executive and senior staff; a focus group interview with WD operations staff; onsite visits to the British Columbia and Manitoba offices; and an e-mail survey of project proponents for a sample of 39 funded projects located throughout Western Canada. The findings and recommendations of the evaluation, including areas for improvement and future delivery of the program, were reported in: Formative Evaluation of the Innovation and Community Investment Program (ICIP), which will be posted on WDs website in due course.

B) Expansion, Update and Maintenance of the National Occupational Standards for Environmental Employment for Canadian Council for Human Resources in the Environment Industry (CCHREI) February 2003 to January 2004

This update of the National Occupational Standards for environmental practitioners in Canada, involved a detailed document review, collection and analysis of quantitative and qualitative data gathered through surveys and focus groups from over 1000 practitioners nationally, and development of the development of interim and final reports in collaboration with the CCHREI staff and the National Steering Committee. SDS worked in partnership with Entegrys Incorporated (February 2003 to January 2004) to complete this large-scale study.

The four-phased process used to deliver the outcomes for this CCHREI project included:

• Detailed review and revision of the existing overall NOS framework including the model for environmental employment.
• Review and revision of the elements in the NOS.
• Detailed occupational analysis of the revised NOS.
• Validation of the resulting subsector profiles and revised NOS framework.

Throughout the process, great effort was made to represent the scope and breadth of environmental employment across Canada. Experts and key informants in environmental practice provided high level feedback on the current and emerging competencies and areas of work subsectors for environmental employment resulting in a revised and expanded framework and subsector model. Almost 1000 practitioners with more than five years industry experience provided detailed feedback, via an on-line survey, on the competencies they currently use. Quantitative analysis of this large database of responses resulted in new occupational profiles (NOS) for each of the 19 subsectors of environmental employment. After a rigorous validation process using focus groups with independent reviewers across Canada, the finalized updated NOS profiles were detailed and submitted in February 2004.

C) Conduct of a Workforce Analysis (Quantitative) and Employment Systems Review (Qualitative) for a Multinational Grain Company

Components included: document review, quantitative analysis of the workforce demographics to meet Canada Human Rights Commission requirements under the Employment Equity Act, and qualitative analysis of organizational systems using focus group and one on one interviews to identify effective systems and systemic barriers. The final report included an executive summary, recommendations for addressing systemic barriers to employment equity, detailed methodology, detailed findings including summary and detailed tables, and the focus group discussion guide. The Report was made available to the Canada Human Rights Commissions auditors during the organizations Employment Equity audit.

Western Economic Diversification:

'During 2004, Western Economic Diversification began a formative evaluation of the Innovation and Community Investment Program. Sagietta Ramserran of SDS Strategic Directions and Solutions was contracted to undertake the evaluation.

Sagietta produced a report that was well written and relevant. Presentations to stakeholders were useful and handled well be Sagietta. Sagietta overcame barriers with respect and available data and produced a final product that was found to be useful to direct the program for the future. Western Economic Diversification would not hesitate to use the services of SDS for future projects and looks forward to working with Sagietta in the future.'

The Canadian Council for Human Resources in the Environment Industry:

CCHREI recognizes the complexities that were involved in this project and the specific set of skills required to accomplish it successfully. CCHREI felt that the team exceeded expectations from project management in terms of: overall project administration, the quality of deliverables, database management, and expertise in competencies and environmental related occupations.

In particular, we found that Sagietta Ramserran, as one of the lead researchers, was very dedicated to the project and key to its success. Her vast experience in areas of environmental practice and science were critical to this project, and CCHREI appreciated her passion about working in the environment sector.

Canada Mortgage and Housing Council:

Ms. Ramserran demonstrated exceptional analytical skills through her interpretation of RFP deliverables, research design, delivery and result evaluation. Her strength as a project manager was illustrated in her ability to orchestrate an agenda of activities in an extremely tight deadline which included background research, participant recruitment, focus group facilitation and data interpretation. At all time Ms. Ramserran presented herself in a professional manner and performed her responsibilities with efficiency and enthusiasm.

I would welcome the opportunity to work with Ms. Ramserran on future research and related activities should such opportunities be presented.

Claudette Bradshaw, Minister of Labour:

I would like to thank you for participating in our consultation process leading to the review of the Employment Equity Act. Your contribution provided a solid base which will lead to even greater results in employment equity.

611430, 541611

B311-Organization/Administrative/Personnel Studies, R122-Program Management/Support Services, R123-Program Review/Development Services, U000-Educational and Training Services

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