Joyce's MBIE needs more 'joined-up thinking' - business leader

Applications are about to close for almost a dozen new senior positions at the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE).

But Business New Zealand chief executive Phil O’Reilly says he is not seeing a lot of real examples of ‘joined-up thinking’ between the agencies – which was one of the ministry’s primary remits.

“There are gaps in the policy at the moment, but there is definitely good-will there from the staff. It is very early days and perhaps in 3 to 6 months, we should see more examples of the agencies working more closely together," Mr O'Reilly told NBR ONLINE.

At the time, economic development minister Steven Joyce said the ministry would provide ‘a more efficient and effective single ministry focused on lifting overall productivity and supporting the growth of competitive businesses.’

He was confident the ministry would help lift momentum for business owners, making it easier to access innovative ideas, markets, capital, skilled workers and resources needed to grow their companies.

A more detailed organisational design and implementation plan is being developed for release late next month, but in the meantime 11 new senior positions have been advertised by MBIE.

Acting chief executive David Smol says he is looking for deputy chief executives to head a number of groups, including strategy and governance; corporate services, labour and commercial environment; science, skills and innovation; infrastructure and resource markets, regulatory practice and market services.

The organisation is also recruiting for a general manager of people and capability; chief financial officer, chief information officer and chief legal advisor.

Interest in the jobs has been described as ‘strong’ from candidates within the organisation, around New Zealand and globally.

Mr Smol and his senior team have been credited with the ministry’s success so far by Mr O’Reilly.

He believes in the month and half the ministry has been in operation, it has bedded down well, considering the change which has come about and continues to evolve.

Mr O’Reilly says he is in almost daily contact with officials at the ministry over anything from business to immigration.

“They’re losing much less momentum than I thought they would be. David Smol and his leadership team have pulled it all together well – they had strategy meetings at the start to work out their direction and it is working.”

He told NBR ONLINE previously, the different agencies had different ways of dealing with problems and often he had to explain things to the agencies in totally different ways.

Mr Smol hopes businesses and other stake holders will soon start to see the benefits from MBIE.

“The benefits will be seen over time as we progressively join up service delivery wherever there’s potential to do so, and as we integrate across areas of policy. Also I think over time, people will see an improvement as we use our critical mass to ensure excellence in policy design and excellence in service delivery.”