The GSDP Staff Retreat was an essential intermediate step in the enterprise strategy process aimed at strengthening internal communications, unifying and deepening a shared understanding of purpose, and linking department-level operations to the enterprise strategy.
Discussion stressed both the importance and challenges of Qatarization. The basic challenge is to balance the requirements implied by GSDP’s mandate, mission and core functions, with the longer-term challenges of recruitment and capacity building to ensure, over time, adequate high quality Qatari staff at all layers of the organization. GSDP leadership affirmed their unswerving dedication to this goal, but observed that the challenges could not be overcome quickly.
There was also a consensus on the need to strengthen both vertical (up and down) and horizontal (across departments) communications within GSDP, if it is to be effective in its new role. Externally, the quality and relevance of communications is also important in helping GSDP refine and clarify its internal thinking and approach around the National Development Strategy (NDS). In addition, it was agreed that a clear and comprehensive communications plan, linked to the NDS is required at an early point.
As agreement is now emerging on the GSDP Mission and Core Functions, the Retreat initiated discussions on linking the enterprise-wide strategy to output-based departmental operations. This was illustrated by selected examples from the Finance and Administration Department.
Further, there was general agreement on the importance of the Retreat and similar cross-departmental and organization-wide initiatives and mechanisms for building a shared understanding of GSDP’s new role, as reflected in the Mission and Core Functions, and reinforcing a culture of cooperation essential for its future operations. Such initiatives and mechanisms are important for more deeply implanting in GSDP the Enterprise Strategy Process, for building a consensus around the changes that GSDP needs to make to become truly effective, and for the timely implementation of such changes. GSDP Leadership is committed to the full participation of staff on a continuing basis in the ESP process, and beyond.
