Table 2 Use of formal, historical and political processes in resource allocation

Politics (External)

Our spending pattern is almost entirely determined by provincial or federal government requirements and expectations. We have very little real freedom to decide which programs or services will be funded, and to what degree.

Politics (Internal)

The squeaky wheel gets the grease. It seems like additional money goes to those Departments and programs which complain the most loudly, and they are also the best at avoiding any cuts. Their arguments aren’t necessarily always evidence based.

Historical

Each Department and program expects to receive about the same amount as in past years. Much of our money is tied up in things that were historically important services, but the organization is slow to adjust its spending to meet changing needs and times.

Formal

We have a formal process which we use to set priorities and allocate resources. Everyone knows what the rules are, and how and why decisions are made. For the most part, strong evidence is needed to justify all spending decisions.

Formal

Our entire budget is reassessed each year, and all Department and program spending needs to be justified in terms of whether or not it meets the organization’s priorities.