Follow up
Outset
Once the necessary trade facilitation measures have been decided upon and put in place, follow-up activities need to be conducted in order to assess progress against the predefined performance indicators.
Methodology
- Set-up check-points: Measuring performance requires setting up check-points that allow easy evaluation of defined policy objectives. Such check-points should ideally be part of the lead agency or body that formulated and launched the trade facilitation initiative. In a number of countries, these are the National Trade Facilitation Committees.
- Monitor identified risks: Initiating change management involves the identification of areas which could cause risk to the success of the reform effort. Any follow-up actions will have to focus on such critical areas.
- Implement performance indicators for short and longer perspectives: A step-wise approach leads to setting clear and measureable objectives. For example, a reduction in the time taken to export/import: year 1 by 10 %, year 2 by 20 %, year 3 by 30%. This ensures users adopt the changes in stages and gives the government possibilities to analyse progress or lack thereof.
Perceived benefits
Change management with proper follow-up activities helps policy makers and managers appraise achievements. It also helps them identify additional measures to further improve processes, procedures and performance. This can lead to the accomplishment of the reform programme objectives in the long-run.
