PROJECTS
MINISTRY OF DEFENSE | GSW
Networked Cooperation at the Ministry of Defense
The Dutch Ministry of Defense, consisting of more than 60,000 employees, is at the heart of society, is constantly changing and works closely with other ministries, departments and organizations.
The introduction of the concept of Networked Cooperation (GSW) was a logical step for the Dutch Ministry of Defense to further improve mutual cooperation and responsiveness to stakeholders (Ministries, society).
New Office Standard for the State
In recent decades, people have started to work more flexibly. Partly as a result of this, offices are more often vacant. Within the government, including Defense, the average occupancy rate of offices is between 40 and 50 percent. Even during peak periods, the average occupancy often does not exceed 60 percent.
The government then decided to discourage investment in office space and facilities by setting a new standard for the use of government offices. This standard assumes seven workplaces for ten full-time employees.
The Defense organization also wants to make efficient use of available office space and is striving for the standard of central government. A reduction in workplaces saves costs and also an opportunity to modernize further, with possibilities for working independently of place and time
(GSW, Revised Defense Master Plan, 2014).
'I am convinced that through result-oriented cooperation and flexible use of available facilities and digital tools, the efficiency and effectiveness of our
organization has increased'.
Erik Akerboom - Secretary General for Defense
Main reasons for introducing GSW were:
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Increase employee satisfaction and be an attractive employer. With GSW, the employee with his craftsmanship is central. GSW stands for talent development and better use of knowledge and skills for organizational purposes. Employees are also given more space to find a balance between work and private life.
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Increase efficiency with result-oriented working (result agreements for higher production and quality).
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Collaborate more effectively by making information more accessible and empowering employees to work smartly and with modern tools.
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Savings through more efficient use of available resources. Among other things, by making more efficient use of office workplaces and by reducing travel distances.
Advice to Central Administrative Staff
Nassau advised the Central Administrative Staff of Defense on the interpretation and implementation of Networked Cooperation on the basis of concepts such as result-oriented cooperation, flexible use of available facilities and use of digital means.
In addition, Nassau developed a series of manuals for various target groups within the Ministry of Defense in collaboration with the Executive Staff and the Communication Department, in which the background, vision, added value of Networked Cooperation and implementation guidelines are explained in detail.
