Frequently Asked Questions
Our FAQ page is designed to provide concise and comprehensive responses to the most commonly encountered questions.
Our FAQ page is designed to provide concise and comprehensive responses to the most commonly encountered questions.
IRBM is “Integrated Results-Based Management” which is a contemporary version of the older Results-Based Management (RBM) system approach to public sector performance management practiced by developed countries and prescribed by all development partners. Its major components cover several key components that are fully integrated with and support each other. These components are strategic results and/or development planning, results-based budgeting, results-based personnel performance management, results-based M&E, and last but most importantly, the evidence-based decision support system or management information system – all of which are encapsulated within an e-government environment. These are critical components in any development effort and failure to address them systematically in an integrated manner renders all development efforts less than effective. This is evident from lessons learned from development initiatives across all countries and especially developing countries.
RBM focuses on managing for results with emphases on results of operations rather than on inputs, expenditures, processes, and outputs alone as done under traditional management. It is a useful management tool for ensuring focus on substantive results of operations. IRBM is also based on the RBM principles but with a major difference. It adopts an integrated approach to ensure that the organization and its results are integrated vertically and horizontally at all levels and all functional components. The IRBM system is fully compliant with the HoVeR PrincipleTM which prescribes tight vertical and horizontal integration of contributory factors for the successful achievement of outcomes.
The HoVeR PrincipleTM is a unique but critical set of principles that ensure that development initiatives and RBM efforts take into account and integrate key success factors within both vertical and horizontal relationships in development efforts. Failure to take into account the HoVeR Principle typically renders development efforts to become ineffective and incomplete. Integration has been proven to be a key success ingredient in development management and is especially crucial for developing countries that are struggling with their complex national development efforts.
The IRBM system is fully compliant with the MfDR principles and even beyond. The MfDR prescribes that all development efforts in countries must be fully focused on results and this is an important criterion. The IRBM system is fully compliant with the MfDR requirements and more. Unlike the MfDR which is more prescriptive, the IRBM system comes complete with all relevant tools, templates, and systems to support systematic and structured implementation within a country (for whole-of-government results-based management) or within an organization. Adopting and implementing an IRBM system virtually assures a fully MfDR compliant country or organization.
The IRBM system is extremely versatile. It can be used for an organization or a Programme under it. It is also best used for an entire country on a whole-of-government basis. It is specially tailored to assist developing countries to transform from a traditional input and process-driven management approach to a fully MfDR compliant system. For countries that are not quite ready to transform the entire government to become IRBM compliant, the system allows for a well structured step-by-step transformation process where individual Ministries/agencies can be transformed in stages with full compatibility to become a whole-of-government integrated RBM system after 1-2 years.
Yes there is. The IRBM system is a fully structured and integrated system that comprises key components under a strategic performance management agenda. The entire IRBM system, its processes, components, and features are fully tested and certified by CeDRE International and its partner Universities. The entire IRBM system has been rigorously tested and certified by our partner Universities in Malaysia and South Africa. Countries or organizations that adopt the IRBM system and wish to be certified IRBM compliant, can opt to have their IRBM system audited and certified as IRBM compliant by our external assessors. A country or organization can also choose to have the IRBM system components certified one by one as they complete its adoption and implementation. For more details on the certification process, please contact us at: admin@mypremas.com
The IRBM system and the accompanying PReMaS software solution are registered under the Malaysian Multimedia Super Corridor (MSC) agency which goes through a stringent quality verification process before registering any product or system as MSC compliant. CeDRE International, the IRBM system, and the PReMaS Solution (called IRBM Suite 4.0) are fully verified and registered with the MDEC authority in Malaysia, thus ensuring the quality and integrity of the system and product. The Malaysian government has also migrated from its RBM system introduced in 1990 to the full IRBM system and the related PReMaS solution for its whole-of-government outcome-based performance management system since 2009. Further to the above, the IRBM system and the PReMaS solutions are also subjected to stringent academic rigor through our partner Universities in Malaysia and South Africa. Finally, the certification process for IRBM compliance is subjected to an audit and ratification process by our partner Universities to ensure independent verification and certification. This certification is also subjected to annual audits and certification maintenance process to ensure continuous quality assurance.
The IRBM is a contemporary performance management system that literally assures improved strategic results planning and development results all round when fully implemented. It is fully MfDR compliant and more. Developing countries, in particular, are best suited to adopt the full IRBM system to help them to become fully MfDR compliant and in conformance with the requirements of international donors and development partners. Adopting the IRBM system ensures that a developing country will be able to meet the results compliance requirements on development planning, budgeting, personnel performance, M&E, and evidence-based decision making which are all crucial components of donor requirements. Similarly, an organization wishing to move to a results-based system is best assured of getting there within the shortest time possible by adopting the IRBM system and the accompanying PReMaS software solution. Additionally, a country can improve its SDG planning, linkages, and results performance management using the IRBM system. The IRBM system systematically identifies and links the SDG goals and targets with the substantive performance plan of each Ministry and to the national medium-term development plan.
The process works both ways. Ideally, the adoption of PReMaS is best done after you have introduced IRBM for your organization. This is because the adoption of the PReMaS requires content knowledge on IRBM and related matters which are capacities built under IRBM system adoption. However, it is also possible to adopt and implement the IRBM system along with the PReMaS solution simultaneously. Under this approach, concurrent content management capacity-building is incorporated as part of the PReMaS introduction to ensure that key personnel are able to utilize the PReMaS to fulfill all IRBM functions.
Yes, it most certainly is. The IRBM system is best suited for developing countries as it helps the country address all of its traditional management challenges such as with results-based development planning, budgeting, personnel management, M&E, and decision-support systems. In fact, it would be safe to say that these are the key challenges of developing countries and which conventional approaches and systems have not been able to address in a wholistic or sustainable manner. The IRBM system, coupled with the support PReMaS software solution, are jointly able to help transform a developing country from the traditional management mode to a results-based and IRBM compliant country within the space of as little as 12 months or a maximum of 36 months.
As mentioned earlier, the IRBM system will ensure better linkages and success for the implementation of the SDGs. Under the IRBM system, every Ministry/Department/agency and lower-level jurisdictions (Provinces/Districts, etc) are systematically linked to the SDGs through a results-based hierarchical structure and system, complete with a results-based M&E system. Developing countries and/or organizations implementing the SDGs are assured of systematic development results when they use the IRBM system and integrated components.
Yes, the IRBM system is suitable for all kinds of organizations, including State-Owned-Enterprises, Local Government, State governments, District governments, and even private sector entities. For example, the IRBM system has also been adopted by the Islamic Financial Standards Board (IFSB), which is an international entity since 2012.
For State-owned-Enterprises, the IRBM system is ideal as it ensures that SOEs are fully geared to not only improve their performance but also to systematically contribute to both sector and national development priorities. As is common knowledge, SOEs are often faced with severe performance issues and in developing countries, they pose a serious fiscal policy challenge. The IRBM system, with its strong focus on integration, ensures systematic strategic results planning and links to the budget, personnel performance, monitoring and evaluation, and strategic decision-making. The IRBM system and the accompanying PReMaS enterprise software solution are key to improving the performance of any SOE.
As in the case of SOEs, the IRBM system is also perfect for improving the strategic results planning and performance of local governments as well as enterprises under them. Local governments, with their strong service delivery orientation, would benefit immensely from the adoption of the IRBM system and all components under it. The strategic results planning provides essential linkages to the higher level sector and national priorities and results. This again is crucial in developing countries where the focus on service delivery is equally important as the contribution of the local government to the sector and national priorities.
Yes. The PReMaS contains an integrated M&E system that enables systematic performance planning for the organization or in the case of a country, for all Ministries, Agencies, and Departments. The M&E component covers key performance indicators (KPIs) as well as all key aspects of a results-based M&E system. The data is then analysed and summary dashboards produced for specific stakeholders on any time period ranging from daily to five-yearly strategic plan periods.
IRBM is an integrated results-based performance management system that strategically and logically links all key aspects of performance. This is applied not only to one organization but across all layers from grassroots to the national policy levels. IRBM uses the HoVeR PrincipleTM and the ProLL ModelTM tools to ensure this logical integration. It also uses other associated programmer planning tools such as the Total Engagement Concept, Internalised Self Evaluation, and the PTA tools to ensure sound strategic planning, monitoring, evaluation, and results management. A key feature of the IRBM system is its ability to link performance horizontally and vertically and especially the policy links at all levels.
The time for adoption and implementation depends on the state of readiness of a country for IRBM. From experience, a country that has the fundamentals in place will take only about a year to fully adopt the IRBM system. On the other hand, a country that is using traditional management approaches may need a minimum of two to three years. We will help you determine your readiness through our unique IRBM Readiness Tool.
If you can’t find the answer you’re looking for in our FAQ section, don’t hesitate to reach out to our dedicated customer support team.