Page 22 - CAO 25th Ann Coffee Table Book

2014 entry bursary winners at a presentation in the new CAO Reception
was reduced with the introduction of an automated password notification, request, and reset module to allow online applicants greater control over their application and thereby reducing the reliance on human assistance in the event of user name or password loss.
Another area where human overheads were reduced was in the Finance Department, where an automated payment transfer and reversal module was introduced to simplify the process of reallocating funds between applicants and accounts.
To assess whether the CAO was working smart, it engaged the auditing firm of CJ & Associates to conduct a Productivity and Workload Exercise. Its primary purpose was to establish the cost to process a single application form, assess the turn-around time of an application form before it became available to institutions, and whether the current staffing complement was adequate to fulfil CAO’s contractual obligations to clients. The report pointed out that the then staffing complement in all departments, except one, was under strain. This was a significant finding since an independent analysis into CAO’s staff grading by Deloitte & Touche came to the same conclusion. A full CAO staff job evaluation grading process that included the CEO, Management and staff was undertaken by Deloitte and its recommendations were accepted by the Board and implemented from November 2013, while a number of policies were written and approved by the Board.
The year also saw CAO’s first End-User manual for institution users introduced, which was enthusiastically received. This guide is regularly updated, as enhancements are introduced with updates posted on the CAO website.
As part of the drive to get the CAO compliant, the first B-BBEE verification was undertaken by AQRate Verification Services and the CAO gained a Level One Certificate. A strategic planning workshop facilitated by Dr Lumkile Lalende of UKZN was held in August, where CAO managers and supervisors interacted as equals with CAO Board Directors.
By 2014, the CAO was receiving regular commendations from applicants and institutional users. Value-added services
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CAO’s Keegan Jood playing ‘Santa Claus’ and handing out gifts to the elderly at a Christmas Party that the CAO held at an old age home in KwaDabeka in 2015
CAO staff at the ‘Red Carpet Photoshoot’ for its year end function held at the Elangeni Hotel in Durban in 2015
From left: Ncami Ngcobo, Patience Moholi and Portia Zikhali