Assessment and Decision Tools
In developing their integrated set of TAM plans, agencies are required to critically assess their operating enviornment and their competency to respond to that environment. Agency planners (asset, finance and corporate, working together) need to make difficult decisions that have long-term and often critical consequences for their agency and/or its stakehoders.
A range of Assessment & Decision Tools is provided to assist agencies. These tools have been assembled with the TAM guidelines for ease of access, albeit they have wider application than TAM planning.
[Click on the headings to access the full document in a pdf version.]
Sustainable Development 
(TAM04-13)
Sustainable Development meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Agencies need to integrate the objectives of sustainable development across all their business practices from corporate planning to service delivery and resource planning.
Heritage Asset Management (TAM04-9)
Organisations that have control of heritage assets are also responsible for the stewardship of the assets and protection of their significance for future generations. Agencies must ensure that the purposes of the Government’s TAM policies, procedures and performance standards are met and that relevant heritage legislation is complied with.
Demand Management (TAM04-8)
Demand Management asserts that by aligning demand for services with available resources, genuine needs are met and community benefits are maximised. It requires a thorough understanding of client characteristics, needs and expectations, and is applied at each stage of the asset management process.
Life-Cycle Costing (TAM04-10)
Often, comparisons of asset alernatives, whether at the concept or detailed design level, have been based mainly on initial capital costs. With growing pressure to achieve better results from assets, ongoing operating and maintenance costs must be considered as they consume most resources over the asset’s service life.
Economic and Financial Appraisals are effective tools that are applicable at every stage of TAM. They can be used for assessing the integrity of capital investment decisions and the effective and efficient management of existing physical assets. Application of these tools ensures that the best ‘value for money’ is achieved and that scarce resources are allocated in a manner that reflects the Government’s priorities.
Value Management (TAM04-14)
Value Management is a powerful management tool for use in an overall strategic management framework including the development of all TAM strategies. It is a structured, analytical process for developing innovative and holistic solutions to complex problems. Value management involves representatives of key stakeholders in a facilitated workshop.
top Risk Management (TAM04-12)
Risk Management is associated with minimising the risks involved with planning, control and operation of the agency’s physical assets, to ensure they provide the necessary support to service delivery. It is a systematic process to identify risks that may impact on the organisation’s objectives, analyse their consequences, and develop ongoing measures to treat them.
Post Implementation Review (TAM04-11)
Post Implementation Review is an evaluation process that reviews the suitability of assets to the required task, and whether the assets could be improved to provide better value and performance. The process can be used to review the development of an asset strategy, a maintenance plan, a construction project or an asset procurement.
Asset Information (TAM04-7)
Asset information provides a systematic approach to the development of asset registers. Assets registers are listings of information relating to aspects of an asset portfolio in a form that allow dates to be cross-referenced and retrieved as required.
The NSW Government has implemented policy and guidelines on how the private sector can finance and deliver facilities and associated non-core services. The aim is to deliver improved services and better value for money, primarily through appropriate risk transfer, encouraging inovation, greater asset utilisation and integrated whole-of-government management.
TAM Capability Tool
The Asset Management (TAM) Capability Assessment Tool is designed for Government agencies to assess their level of capability or readiness to implement TAM. The assessment process is called a Capability Review. The TAM Capability Assessment Tool uses a questionnaire approach to help agencies review their Asset Management capability, including strengths and areas for improvement.
The TAM Capability Assessment Tool is designed to evaluate TAM capability in its widest sense. That includes examining how an agency plans to achieve its corporate results, planning the role assets play in supporting this and how asset management is implemented, including how assets are acquired, managed and disposed of.
- Total Asset Management Capability Tool (TAM04-15)
- Total Asset Management Capability Tool - Snapshot Capability Review (TAM04-16)
- Total Asset Management Capability Tool - The Guide to Conducting a Full Capability Review (TAM04-17)
- Total Asset Management Capability Tool - The Capability Review Report Kit (TAM04-18)