All prime contractors of the Work Programme pass the Merlin Standard

Indus Delta reports that all prime contractors of the Work Programme have now been accredited with the Merlin Standard (designed to ensure fairness towards supply chain partners, e.g. subcontractors) -

http://indusdelta.co.uk/story/all_prime_contractors_work_programme_pass_merlin_standard/10594

Interestingly having read several of the Merlin Reports I am still none the wiser as to what the benchmark was against which success or failure was measured. Each provider was given a percentage mark and an outcome of either “satisfactory” or “good” against each of the measures. This is meaningless though unless one knows what percentage is deemed a pass or fail and what determines a “satisfactory”, “good” or other mark against each of the areas reviewed.  Pretty much looks like a tick box exercise to appease supply chain providers, a lot of whom sit in the voluntary sector and have publicly complained about poor treatment.

I would love to know how much this exercise cost as audits are never cheap…..

there’s more info on the assesement process on the merlin site @

http://www.merlinstandard.co.uk/about-merlin.php

they say the standard has been designed to ‘help evolve successful, high performing supply chains, and champion positive behaviours and relationships in the delivery of provision’ !!

“the standard has been designed to ‘help evolve successful, high performing supply chains, and champion positive behaviours and relationships in the delivery of provision’”.

Straight out of Twentytwelve.

And there’s this.  “Criteria underpinning the principles also seek to review the role of commissioning, including the procurement process, and how supply chain behaviour is affected by the behaviour of the commissioner (eg. DWP).”

This kind of thing is getting out of hand.  In non Twentytwelve language this should mean “we will monitor closely those who provide services on our behalf and there will be severe sanctions against those who fail to live up to expected standards”.

Thanks Shawn. So 54% appears to be the “unsatisfactory” cut off point. Based on my assessment of the assessment process I would give Merlin 100% in my new Doublespeak category and also create a new outcome of “stupendous overperformance” for this one!!

Beautifully put.  Go straight to the head of the Deliverance Committee, do not pass go, do not collect £200 and we’ll all be totally cool with that.

Ha Ha Ha!! I like it Paul. Don’t go giving me ideas though.

I wonder if the personal lives of the oxygen thieves who come out with this guff are as vaccuous as their writings?

There really is no excuse for some of this.  Take the following for example.

“Step 1
Make a commitment to undertaking an assessment by registering on the Merlin website”

Translation: log on to www. etc, register and click “assessment”

“Step 2
Review your current practices in relation to the Standard and begin to populate the online self-assessment questionnaire”

Translation: complete the self-assessment questionnaire

“Step 3
When you are ready to begin the assessment process submit your online self-assessment questionnaire”

Translation: click “send”.

This has to stop.  Now!

the weekend is calling nevip .... leave now before it’s too late .....

It’s far too late for me Shawn.  Save youirself.

I feel your pain…

It’s spreading.  On Newsnight last night the phrase “performance management approach” was used.  In succession that’s noun, noun and verb.  Innit!

The latest phrase round here is ‘People Dashboard’.

I have absolutely no idea what this means as English is only my first language.

I am going on holiday to Greece next week and, as I don’t speak Greek, I am quite looking forward to not having to feel guilty that I don’t understand anything!

Don’t mention the crisis.  I mentioned it once but I think I got away with it.