Absorbing lessons learned from the World Food Programme

The Umoja team, dedicated to implementing UN administrative reform and developing a technical solution to support it, has been meeting with World Food Programme (WFP) staff in recent weeks to learn about how WFP achieved its own administrative reform goals.

Seven WFP staff are in New York for three weeks to share the methodology used to streamline WFP business processes and to present their technical solution. Main accomplishments include reduced reliance on manual processes and compliance with international accounting standards. The World Food Programme aims to reach more than 90 million people with food assistance this year in more than 70 countries.

“The WFP team has countless lessons learned for us” said Ian Divers, Umoja’s Service Delivery Manager. “Their system has core functionalities that we can possibly build upon” said Divers. Umoja may adopt certain elements of WFP’s solution and adapt them to meet the Secretariat’s needs. For example, WFP has developed a customized module for managing UN entitlements which will facilitate the realization of similar functions in Umoja.

For their part, WFP colleagues are enjoying the experience of showcasing the centralized, sophisticated tool that makes their organization tick. “It has been educational and enjoyable for us” said Massimo Nasta of WFP. “We’re learning about where the Secretariat is headed. Ultimately, Umoja will help the UN become more efficient, and in turn help more people who need it – and that’s encouraging” said Nasta.

To learn more about Umoja visit www.unumoja.org

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Originally published on iSeek in English and French on 25 May 2011

Meeting of the minds - Umoja hosts Event Management workshop

Conference and event management staff from Nairobi, Geneva, Vienna and Addis Ababa, as well as several UNHQ Departments (DGACM, DM, DPI) gathered in New York recently for a three-day workshop (4-6 May) to learn about Umoja's progress in re-engineering processes that support UN conference and event planning.

The Umoja team has been examining our current administrative processes, technology and policies across the United Nations and identifying opportunities for improvement. They have documented 318 processes and are finalizing their endorsement and acceptance with Umoja’s Steering Committee.

Umoja’s Event Management Track has worked with a wide range of staff to understand all user requirements. Together they are assessing whether Umoja should integrate with existing systems. The overarching goal is to give event managers the best possible tools for planning !and managing their meetings and events.

At this workshop, nearly 50 participants learned about Umoja’s proposed technical structure and functionality. They saw Umoja “storyboards” – series of screen shots that illustrate how a staff member would accomplish specific actions – like scheduling of resources.

“It was a highly effective meeting of the minds” said Anne Matthews, Team Lead for Umoja’s Central Support Services Team. “We received crucial feedback from the people that we need to hear from in Offices Away from Headquarters and in DPI, DM and DGACM. There were excellent questions and concerns posed from participants. We’re already incorporating their comments into our work” added Matthews.

The workshop was also a success from the participants’ perspectives; on a post-workshop !questionnaire, 89 per cent of respondents said they were “very” or “extremely” satisfied with it. Syed Shamsie from Geneva welcomed the opportunity to meet face-to face with the Umoja team and reported that he learned a lot: “the workshop helped in developing a very good understanding of common processes and data between Umoja and DGACM's global IT applications.”

The Umoja team thanks all workshop participants for their input and collaboration. To see more photos from the event, check out Umoja’s Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/unumoja.

All conference and event management staff (and all UN staff) are invited to see Umoja’s progress by logging in to Umoja NET at www.unumoja.net, a password-protected site. Request an account here (www.unumoja.org). Once your registration is confirmed, visit the Umoja Solution page, look for event management processes and send in your feedback.

If you have questions, contact Umoja at (212) 963-4140 or e-mail umoja@un.org.

Originally published on iSeek in English and French on 16 May 2011

Faces of Umoja -interview with Joanna Porreca, Subject Matter Expert

How do you describe Umoja to colleagues?

I explain that Umoja is the Secretary General’s administrative reform initiative. The Umoja team is dedicated to re-engineering the UN’s business processes and developing a technical solution to support them.

What is your role on the Umoja team?

I was selected as the Subject Matter Expert (SME) for Procurement on the Change Management Team. My overall role is to help strategize and advise on the re-engineering of procurement business processes and policies. It’s a great opportunity to put my administrative expertise to work in a new way.

What specific projects are you working on now?

I’m working very closely with the Supply Chain Team on the “Procure to Pay” process. It encompasses all steps involved in securing goods and services – everything from planning what you need to acquiring the product.

I’m also working with the Procurement Division in the implementation of a new category coding system. Every product category – like vehicles or furniture – is assigned a code which facilitates the whole process – from requisition to procurement to inventory management. The objective is to implement a coding system that is widely used in the marketplace. It will enable the UN to more clearly communicate the Organization’s requirements to suppliers. This is an important step toward improving the overall UN procurement process.

Where did you serve prior to joining Umoja?

Just prior to joining, I was the Chief of the Policy and Best Practices Section in the Procurement Division/OCSS where I participated in procurement reform initiatives. All together I’ve worked in UN procurement for 17 years, including 6 as Chief of Procurement at the UN Office at Geneva. Before the UN I worked in private sector procurement for about 13 years.

How do you think Umoja will benefit the Organization?

From a procurement perspective, Umoja will improve how we plan and manage the purchase of goods and services. In general, Umoja will enable administrative staff to work more quickly and efficiently, especially in peacekeeping missions where time is of the essence.

Originally published on iSeek in English and French on 9 May 2011

Working outside the cubicle, Umoja embraces open office space

The Umoja team has a unique workspace design and layout that facilitates frequent staff interaction and expression of ideas. This open-plan layout has been cost-efficient and supports the team’s work: the re-engineering of UN business processes with the goal of creating a more flexible and efficient organization.

The Umoja office on the 24th floor of the Mobil building (150 E 42nd Street) has no cubicles and only a few offices, most of which are shared. With few physical boundaries between staff, they can meet easily with other colleagues and consultants. The environment is dynamic, interactive and fast-paced.

Staff occupy adjoining desks positioned in long rows and they are not arranged hierarchically. Directors, Professional staff, General Service staff and interns work alongside each other. This encourages staff to express themselves and creates a friendly, collegial atmosphere.

“When you look at our office space, it’s impossible to tell which staff are Professional or General Service” says Travis Weyer an Umoja Central Services Support Team Member. “It creates a positive environment that’s good for team morale. It’s also easier for newcomers to feel welcome and learn quickly about Umoja” says Weyer.

Newcomers find many surprises on joining Umoja. While staff enjoy their open, light-filled space, it’s sparse and purely functional in many ways. Staff members have been sharing phone lines while more lines are installed.

Phone booths from the old Secretariat building were moved to Umoja’s space to provide space for phone calls. It’s a rare example of old technology being used successfully to support modern communications. It also supports the UN’s goal of recycling its assets whenever possible.

Another unique aspect of the space is the high number of meeting rooms: there are 16 in total for the team of 155 staff and consultants. These rooms are heavily used each day for meetings, workshops and ad hoc group discussions. Since all Umoja staff use laptops instead of desktops, it’s a common sight to see people carrying their laptops to conference rooms for individual or group projects.

The environment has made staff more flexible and adaptable. Newcomers go through a period of adjustment, but most grow to prefer the open, mobile way of working to their former cubicles or offices.

The Umoja office space may be an example of what’s to come for many Secretariat staff based in New York. According to the website of the Capital Master Plan, the renovated Secretariat building will have “more open, common space and less closed hierarchically defined individual space.” The Umoja team will certainly be prepared for these changes – and they will have a list of lessons-learned to share!

To learn more about Umoja visit www.unumoja.org.

Originally published on iSeek in English and French on 29 April 2011

Faces of Umoja - interview with Vladimir Reyes, Subject Matter Expert

Vladimir Reyes has been working for the UN for the last 29 years. He recently joined Umoja's Central Support Services Team.

Do colleagues from other departments ask you what Umoja is?

A lot of staff are learning about Umoja these days. Many think it’s a technical system that will replace IMIS, but it’s so much more. Umoja is about reforming UN administrative processes and improving the way we do UN business. So Umoja is a reform process and a technical application.

What is your role on the Umoja team?

I joined Umoja’s Central Support Services Team in a temporary position as a Subject Matter Expert (SME). My role is to share my UN experience in administration and information technology…over the years I’ve worked in procurement, peacekeeping and most recently as a service desk manager in OICT/UNHQ. I’m helping Umoja colleagues understand all the different systems that staff use to request assistance – for computer problems, office maintenance, conference rooms…you name it. We’re trying to develop new ways of handling these queries so that they are fulfilled faster and more efficiently.

What is Umoja's working environment like?

You have to adjust, work fast, improvise and adapt. The space itself is not your typical UNHQ office layout. We have an open space structure and you are aware of what everyone is doing. It is conducive to open communication but it can limit your concentration sometimes. I have been fortunate to have worked in the field so I know how to simply work with what’s available.

Why did you join Umoja?

I was excited by the idea of helping make significant improvements in the way we do things. I’ve worked at the UN for 29 years so it’s a pleasure to participate in a reform of this scope.

What do you like about your job?
I like learning about how Umoja will bring our Organization together. We are so used to working in our own little worlds and getting 5 signatures on a piece of paper just because it’s always been done that way. Here I get to figure out how we can work outside our own silos.

Is Umoja hiring?

Yes! Check out the UN Careers Portal (http://careers.un.org/lbw/Home.aspx) and do a search for vacancies in the Department of Administration and Management – the Office of the Under-Secretary-General.

And to learn more about Umoja, check out our intranet portal called Umoja NET. You can register through our public site at www.unumoja.org.

Find Umoja vacancies on UN Careers Portal by using these search parameters:

Originally published on iSeek in English and French on 15 April 2011