Government of Western Australia drives OPEX through people, purpose & passion

The Government of Western Australia is driving operational excellence (OPEX) with a focus on people, purpose and passion. That’s according to Graeme Jones, deputy director general business services at the Department of Communities.

The Department of Communities is a government agency that brings together vital services and functions that enable individual, family and community wellbeing in Western Australia. It is committed to making a positive difference to the lives of people, including some of the region’s most vulnerable citizens.

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Transforming achievements into success for all

Jones aims to transform achievements into success for all, he said. “I like to focus on achieving outcomes, and I admit to enjoying multiple tasks and supporting the agency and my teams [to] deliver on those tasks and put success in motion,” he explained.

He values the complexity of roles that are multifaceted and challenging, like business services, with various units and functional responsibilities that make his role more interesting. “I have an opportunity to gain experience in a new environment that allows me to grow and develop.”

His current priorities are to support communities to become more financially sustainable within approved treasury budget parameters and to develop a strategic ICT investment plan to support communities over the next 10 years, Jones said.

“I enjoy my role because the expectations and responsibilities of deputy director general business services closely align with my previous portfolios in education and health and my values. It’s rewarding to be able to make a difference to vulnerable community members in Western Australia.”

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What is OPEX in government? 

OPEX in government is a strategic approach focused on continuously improving government processes to deliver greater public value, efficiency and effectiveness. It involves streamlining services, eliminating waste, leveraging digital transformation, empowering employees and adopting a customer-centric, results-oriented mindset to achieve public policy goals and enhance the citizen experience.

While many public sector organizations have embraced methodologies like Kaizen and Lean, sustaining OPEX initiatives remains a challenge, according to Operational Excellence for the Public Sector: A Practical Guide for Senior Executives.

Few have fully integrated Lean Six Sigma due to cultural resistance, a lack of formal infrastructure, the required skills competencies, visionary and strategic leadership, awareness of the integrated approach and limited strategic alignment. Senior management often fails to prioritize OPEX, leaving critical improvement opportunities untapped.

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