How To Reduce A Backlog Trial are common elements of successful backlog reduction programs. Building on these common elements, this section provides you with the practical knowledge and strategies to reduce backlogged cases in six-steps that are designed especially for courts in the Pacific. Additional strategies to reduce delay will be discussed in Section 5. Diagram 2 Implementing the Six-Step Backlog Reduction Methodology Prepare Leadership The capacity of the court to improve its performance and be accountable is dependent upon the ability of its leaders to define concrete, measureable goals and plans for pursuing them. Merely aiming to improve performance or reduce delay without defining specific targets is unlikely to accomplish real change. The role of the Chief Justice is therefore, pivotal in terms of leadership, goal setting, planning and role modelling by personally helping to reduce the backlog. To do this, it is important that quality staff support the Chief Justice. Empowering personnel to take action is particularly important, especially in the cultural contexts of the Pacific court personnel sometimes feel they must have the direction of a judge or leader before they take independent action. This means court leaders need to be particularly energetic in overseeing plans, training and enabling team members and stakeholders to do what is necessary to reduce delay. Guidelines for the general roles of stakeholders are included in the Additional Resources Toolkit. Leaders set trial and make plans Action: Planning, Teamwork and Management Courts with a problematic backlog should approach the situation systematically. This includes establishing a team and preparing a Backlog Reduction Plan. Using this plan, court leaders and the team can follow and monitor implementation and progress and possibly use it to procure additional resources. General features of the written backlog reduction plan are presented below. Features of a Backlog Reduction Plan: Goals and Objectives Description of the backlog (using statistics and charts) Causes of the backlog and proposals to address them Priorities for reduction Targets for reduction Strategies for achieving targets: internal and external Resourcing
How To Reduce A Backlog are common elements of successful backlog reduction programs. Building on these common elements, this section provides you with the practical knowledge and strategies to reduce backlogged cases in six-steps that are designed especially for courts in the Pacific. Additional strategies to reduce delay will be discussed in Section 5. Diagram 2 Implementing the Six-Step Backlog Reduction Methodology Prepare Leadership The capacity of the court to improve its performance and be accountable is dependent upon the ability of its leaders to define concrete, measureable goals and plans for pursuing them. Merely aiming to improve performance or reduce delay without defining specific targets is unlikely to accomplish real change. The role of the Chief Justice is therefore, pivotal in terms of leadership, goal setting, planning and role modelling by personally helping to reduce the backlog. To do this, it is important that quality staff support the Chief Justice. Empowering personnel to take action is particularly important, especially in the cultural contexts of the Pacific court personnel sometimes feel they must have the direction of a judge or leader before they take independent action. This means court leaders need to be particularly energetic in overseeing plans, training and enabling team members and stakeholders to do what is necessary to reduce delay. Guidelines for the general roles of stakeholders are included in the Additional Resources Toolkit. Action: Leaders set and make plans Planning, Teamwork and Management Courts with a problematic backlog should approach the situation systematically. This includes establishing a team and preparing a Backlog Reduction Plan. Using this plan, court leaders and the team can follow and monitor implementation and progress and possibly use it to procure additional resources. General features of the written backlog reduction plan are presented below. Features of a Backlog Reduction Plan: Goals and Objectives Description of the backlog (using statistics and charts) Causes of the backlog and proposals to address them Priorities for reduction Targets for reduction Strategies for achieving targets: internal and external Resourcing trial Trial
Reducing-Backlog-and-Delay-Toolkit.docx