Lectures                   
1 Changes to the management system.
2 Management System of the City of Reykjavík.
3 The Oracle Employee System – Preparation and Adaptation.
4 Overview of Finances and Budgeting Process.
5 Financial Information System.
6 The Three Portals – Accessibility of Services.

Over the past decade, the management system of the City of Reykjavík has gone through considerable changes. A comprehensive audit has been performed on the city’s management and committee system, and a new organisational chart came into effect last spring (2005). The city’s projects have changed considerably, tasks are performed in new ways and projects have variously been added or cancelled. The principal goals for the changes to the management system of the city were: simplification of the management system, reduction in the number of committees, merging of issues and correlation of the committee system and management system, clearer fields of responsibility, strengthening of political policies and monitoring of professional committees, greater procedural efficiency and increased effectiveness, clearer position of the city authorities and more effective and focused city management meetings, democratic work practices and consultation to encourage equality and transparency. This undertaking was a considerable learning process for the management and staff which others could learn from.

In 1999, the City of Reykjavík decided to renew the city’s payroll system, and at the same time, bring into use a new and co-ordinated Human Resource Information System involving all city entities. Following a comprehensive needs analysis, an invitation to tender, containing extensive specifications, was issued in the EEA area. The Oracle E Business Suite was chosen. The process from the needs analysis to the whole process of calling for tender to the choosing of the system and its adaptation and development was an interesting learning process which could be of benefit to others.

The finances of the capital city are a complex project for which the City of Reykjavík uses the Agresso financial information system. The adoption of the system was a huge learning curve, which may well be shared with others. The scope of the city finances are, moreover, extremely interesting and can be examined using various statistical facts and interesting images. One of the exciting innovations in the operation of the city is the adoption of purchasing cards which will substantially reduce purchasing costs.

Reykjavík residents can access the city’s services from three portals: community-based service centres, call centres and e-services. Six service centres, in as many neighbourhoods, are operated in the city. These focus on providing families in the city with both comprehensive and targeted welfare services and accept applications for all services provided by the city. Each service centre is a pioneer in a particular field of the services, e.g. multicultural issues and preventive measures. The telephone centre 411 1111 connects callers to all operating units within the city infrastructure and provides general information on services and activities provided by the city. Electronic Reykjavík involves, among other things, personal areas on the website of the City of Reykjavík which residents can establish for e-business. All applications for Reykjavík City services are accessible from one area on the city’s website.