Morale Falling, Staff Optimism About CSIRO Future Low, Survey Shows

ABC News - Jake Sturmer

The survey shows a disconnect CSIRO staff and management. (ABC News: Lucy Barbour)

Morale is falling among CSIRO workers and staff optimism about the future of the research organisation is low, according to a staff survey.

The survey commissioned by the organisation also reveals a massive disconnect between the organisation's management and its staff overall.
It comes as the organisation prepares to axe hundreds of jobs, largely in the oceans, atmosphere, land and water climate science teams.
The survey found 97 per cent of the leadership team believed in the next year CSIRO would change for the better — compared to just 21 per cent of staff who shared that view.
Staff at CSIRO are half as optimistic for the future compared to other organisations in Australia and similar research institutions around the world.
More than 3400, or around 64 per cent of staff, participated in the survey in July this year.
It sets out the scale of the task at hand for chief executive Larry Marshall, who has just had his contract renewed by the board until the end of the decade.
"Dr Marshall has our support to continue to implement [the] Strategy 2020," CSIRO chairman David Thodey said in an email to staff.

Optimism at the CSIRO is low compared to similar organisations around the world. (CSIRO)

In another report released today, a review of the decision-making processes that led to the controversial job cuts by consultants Ernst and Young found oversights in governance and risk management.
It found consistent problems in the way management handled the cuts, known internally as the Science Prioritisation and Implementation (SPI) process.
The review recommends CSIRO "reassess the existing organisational structure and practices … to provide appropriate management and coordination to all phases of the SPI process".
"The lack of proper planning and assignment of responsibility of each phase of the SPI process … led to perceived levels of inadequacy in rigour and consistency of Executive Team decisions," the consultant's report found.
"There was also limited documentation of the role each of these key stakeholders had to play; when they should be involved; or how they should coordinate activity.
"There was found to be a lack of rigour and protocols regarding the documentation of key meetings and decisions."
CSIRO said in its initial response to the review that by the end of the year, the chief executive would "continue to assess the appropriateness of the current organisation structure and practices and implement changes accordingly".

Links

• Hunt orders CSIRO U-turn on climate science
• CSIRO Melbourne climate science labs certain to close
• CSIRO workers 'stressed, upset' as they wait for information on job cuts
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