My Department recently published its strategy statement for the period to 31 December 2003. It sets out my Department's strategic priorities and high level objectives, how these will be met and how available resources will be used. The statement identifies objectives to be met in relation to each strategic priority, emphasising expected outcomes. It also includes a section on measuring progress against objectives and performance. The objectives for my Department are operationalised through the business plans developed at division/section level, and individual people's objectives, agreed as part of the performance management and development system.
In order to measure performance against objectives my Department employs a range of internal measurement mechanisms, the most significant of which is the publication of the annual progress report. My Department has published a full set of reports on progress in relation to the priorities and objectives of the previous strategy statement. The first progress report on the latest strategy statement is currently being prepared.