IN the rapidly evolving field of public administration, innovative approaches to project management are more crucial than ever. Recognising this imperative, the Malaysian government has prioritised enhancing public governance to serve citizens' needs better.
However, government projects in Malaysia have often suffered from inadequate project management, resulting in delays, cost overruns and unsatisfactory outcomes, as consistently reported by the National Audit Department.
Structural issues, characterised by fragmentation and siloed thinking across various departments and agencies, further hinder effective project execution, caught between project planning and expectations. Simultaneously, the proliferation of complex societal challenges necessitates the development of innovative solutions.
To address these challenges, the 11th and 12th Malaysia Plans introduced several initiatives to transform public service delivery to be more citizen-centric, efficient and productive. Key among these initiatives were governance and institutional reforms, leading to the establishment of the Integrated Public Project Management course (3PAB) by the National Institute of Public Administration (Intan).
The 3PAB programme was launched in 2014, and aims to enhance government officials' knowledge and skills in managing public development projects, thereby bridging identified gaps in project management practices.
Recently, Intan has adopted a co-creation model for the 3PAB programme. Co-creation involves the active participation of all stakeholders in planning, designing and curating project management activities. This approach fosters collaboration and engagement, ensuring solutions align with shared values and objectives.
The 3PAB programme collaborates with six strategic partners: the Implementation Coordination Unit (ICU) from the Prime Minister's Department, the Ministry of Economy (ME), the Public Works Department (PWD), the Public Service Department (JPA), Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM), and the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB).
These partners collaborate to formulate, review and design best practices for managing public projects. Co-creation has proven to be a potent tool for promoting innovation in public service delivery, as evidenced by its widespread adoption in European countries like Denmark, Sweden, Finland and the Netherlands.
It has also gained traction in Asia, with countries such as Singapore, South Korea and Hong Kong embracing this approach. The growing interest in co-creation underscores its potential to drive more innovative and effective solutions across sectors and organisations.
Building on this foundation, through the co-creation process, the 3PAB programme has developed a unified framework for managing public projects.
This comprehensive framework addresses various aspects of project management, including strategic planning, design phase management, project monitoring and control, and project closure. It integrates practices from various government agency guidelines and regulations to enhance current practices and serves as a model for future public sector projects in Malaysia.
The collaborative platforms established through the 3PAB programme extend beyond framework development. These platforms have been instrumental in identifying gaps in current project management practices, which are then addressed through revisions to the programme's training modules.
This iterative process ensures that training remains relevant and effective in addressing evolving challenges in public project management.
Intan's productive engagement with its six strategic partners with a series of workshops has resulted in a holistic framework that addresses critical knowledge area in curriculum design. This collaborative effort underscores the importance of the co-creation phase and establishes a new standard for curriculum development in the Malaysian public sector.
By fostering such partnerships, Intan is paving the way for a more efficient, innovative and responsive public service training ecosystem.
This approach involves defining problems collaboratively and collectively designing and implementing solutions to create public value for society as a whole. The new framework emphasises continuous improvement and adaptability, ensuring that public servants are well-equipped to tackle emerging challenges and deliver superior quality service.
The success of the 3PAB programme highlights the pivotal role of co-creation in modern public administration. By involving multiple stakeholders, Intan ensures that the solutions developed are practical, inclusive and sustainable. This collaborative model helps bridge gaps between different governmental bodies, fostering a more integrated approach to public project management.
During the National Development Action Council meeting on June 7, the prime minister emphasised the need for "all ministries, agencies and stakeholders to move forward in unison, in an integrated and planned manner". This endorsement underscores the importance of unity and engagement in the transition to co-creation to achieve effective governance.
Participants from (ICU) from the PM's Department, the Ministry of Economy, the PWD, UiTM and CIDB attended an Integrated Project management workshop organised by Intan.
* The writer is a senior training consultant, Public Policy, Project Management and Governance Studies Centre, National Institute of Public Administration (Intan) and can be reached at yoon@intanbk.intan.my
The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect those of the New Straits Times