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On-line Professional Development

AFOA 6 - Performance Measurement & Reporting in First Nations: A Focus on Results

Learning to report on performance to community members is a big step on the road to self-governance. This course introduces the concept in a First Nation context, identifies core principles of performance reporting and draws the link to financial reporting.

The cost for this course is:

Members: $535 (plus GST)

Non-members: $645 (plus GST)

For course start dates and to register, click on Register for courses.

Course Description

Performance Measurement and Reporting in First Nations: A Focus on Results will help Aboriginal financial managers and Band members to use performance reporting as part of their strategy to strengthen their communities and organizations. The focus is on measuring and reporting performance to community members so that they will be in a better position to plan and achieve their community’s goals.

Course Learning Objectives

Upon completion of the course, you will be able to:

Lesson 1 - What is Performance Reporting and Why it Matters

  • Explain why a First Nation needs more than financial reporting;
  • Identify challenges and potential barriers to the effective use of performance reporting in a First Naton context.

Lesson 2 - Dimensions of Performance

  • Discuss the nature of performance and different approaches to describing it;
  • Explain the elements and use of the Aboriginal Performance Wheel.

Lesson 3 – Managing, Measuring and Reporting Performance

  • Explain how performance reporting connects to performance measurement and management;
  • Discuss the respective roles and responsibilities of Council, management, financial officers, and auditors in relation to performance reporting;
  • Identify and discuss key issues involved in establishing accountability for non-financial dimensions of performance.

Lesson 4 – Reporting Performance - Getting Started

  • Assess the capacity of their community to prepare and use performance reports;
  • Discuss, and obtain community support for, the appropriate level of reporting;
  • Select important aspects of performance and obtain community support for the selection.

Lesson 5 – Creating Performance Reports

  • Identify the kind of information that should be included in performance reports;
  • Discuss alternative approaches to assuring themselves and users that they can rely on reported information.

Lesson 6 – Using Performance Reports

  • Appreciate the importance of creating occasions and/or processes where users and providers of performance information can discuss goals, achievements and future directions;
  • Identify and explain key steps in building capacity - both to provide and to use robust performance information.
Course Completion and grading

The course material is broken down into six lessons.  In each lesson, you will find specific learning objectives and instructions for completion.  The instructions will guide you through the course readings, other reference material and the work to be done to complete the lesson.  

The primary course material is the AFOA publication Performance Measurement and Reporting in First Nations – A Focus on Results.  Other materials are specified in the individual lessons and in the Bibliography.

Lesson Topic Assignments
1 What is Performance Reporting and Why it Matters Assignment 1
2 Dimensions of Performance Assignment 2
3 Managing, Measuring and Reporting Performance Assignment 3
4 Getting Started Assignment 4
5 Creating Performance Reports Assignment 5
6 Using Performance Reports Assignment 6
Course Assignments and Grading

Students are evaluated in this course as follow:

Participation 25%

Assignments 75% 

Participation

It is 25% of the student’s course grade, and has two elements.

Group Discussion. Each lesson includes one or more group discussion activities where participants share information with other members of their group through the “Discussions” area on the Web Site.  Your facilitator will monitor discussion contributions to provide support where required and to determine participation marks.  Participation marks will reflect primarily the quality of participants’ contributions and their interactions with other members of the group.  The number of times participants contribute postings will also be considered – as a rough rule, participants should aim to contribute 3 substantive postings for each lesson as well as responding to other participants.

Web searches. You are required to conduct Web Searches.  These are to be posted in the “discussion activity database” and are described in the lessons.