That’s the only conclusion that can be drawn from the results of the CSIRO Staff Association (CSA) electronic survey.
It also supports the strong anecdotal feedback previously obtained from CSA members right around the country.
What were the survey results?
In answer to the 3 specific questions asked the results were as follows:
How much time does it take you to effort log (average minutes per week)?
The average was 16 minutes but some respondents quoted figures up to an hour!
Do you log the same “default” hours to the same codes each time you effort log?
Yes 65% No 35%
Should “default” hours be automatically verified by CSIRO without individual effort logging?
Yes 88% No 12%
What are members saying?
The major point consistently made by CSIRO staff right around the country is that the current system does not result in real information being recorded (which is not helped by the restrictions imposed by the SAP system). In effect staff are required to manipulate or distort data in order to fit in with the system’s requirements.
CSA members would much prefer an automatically verified default system which would result in relieving individual CSIRO staff from having to needlessly perform this bureaucratic task and thus achieving a significant productivity increase.
In this way staff could be allowed to get on with the science and research to which they are committed to performing and supporting.
Where to from here?
CSIRO CEO Megan Clark has committed to a review of effort logging some months ago but its time this issue was fixed. Your union will be seeking a further meeting with CSIRO management about this and the plethora of other issues associated with bureaucracy and SAP. We’ll keep members updated as these issues progress.
What if I’m not a staff association member?
Then there’s no better time to join! Just fill out the form on the back of this bulletin and hand to your local workplace delegate, fax to 03 8620 6347 or scan and email to csstaff@cpsu.org.au
