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National Partnership for Reinventing Government
(formerly National Performance Review)
An Information Sheet for Federal Communicators, Managers, Workers, and Their Partners--Pass It On
Denver Innovations Conference Is July 16-17
As a winner of the 1995 Innovations in American Government Award, the Bureau of Reclamation faced a problem we'd all like to tackle--how to spend the $100,000 grant that went with the award. The Bureau is using it to set up an Innovations Resource Center to share information on reinvention techniques and approaches with other agencies and to manage a Speaker's Bank. The Bureau will also set up a reinvention clearing house and host conferences.
This is short notice, but if you're interested and if you hurry, maybe you can get in on their two-day government innovations conference in Denver, July 16-17. It's co-sponsored by the Denver Federal Executive Board. The keynote speaker will be William Parent, Executive Director of the Innovations in Government Award Program.
For Conference Information
Because the Bureau is covering a lot of the expenses from their award, the fee is just $40. It must be paid by check (made out to the DFEB). You may fax your name, organization, mailing address, and phone number to (303) 676-6464, and you must mail your check immediately. Call JoAnne Zimmerman at (303) 676-7009 to get more information.
The Bureau of Reclamation was one of six federal organizations to win the Innovations in Government Award last year. Sponsored by the Ford Foundation and Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government, the Award recognizes government programs that represent new and highly effective approaches to meeting public needs. For Award information, call (617) 495-0558.
Reclamation's Reinvention Innovations
Reclamation won the Award for transforming itself from a dam-building agency into a leading water resource management agency. Here are some of the Bureau of Reclamation's award-winning achievements:
- Delegated decision-making authority to the lowest practical level, reduced layers of management, and established a network of area offices.
- Eliminated many requirements, including nearly 6,500 pages of internal regulations.
- Reduced the workforce by more than 1,500 employees between 1993 and 1994 and maintained a spirit of enthusiasm and commitment.
- Provided training and support to employees, including open planning meetings, intensive outplacement assistance, and courses on managing change.
If you can't make the conference, contact Karen Pedone to learn about the other services of the Innovations Resource Center (Email: kpedone@usbr.gov, phone: 202-208-4972).
Pop quiz...How do you bring 1,000 people together, from Washington State to Washington, DC, for less than $15 per person?
The Department of Energy did just that on June 11 when it used technology to electronically connect managers, customers, contractors, and stakeholders for its Third Annual Quality Summit, "DOE: Cost-Conscious and Results-Driven." Through satellite links, video and phone linkages, fax, phone, and e-mail systems, attendees heard from Secretary O'Leary and speakers from industry, labor, and customer groups. They also participated in workshops such as "Delivering Results to Customers" and "Forces of Change and the Transformation Process."
Not All Talk
And, the Department of Energy quality process is not all talk. Examples of cost savings identified thus far through DOE's quality processes include:
- $70 million in productivity savings realized by the Albuquerque Operations Office through improvements to its uranium mill tailings (a byproduct of uranium mining) disposal process.
- $10 million saved by reducing management oversight reviews from 324 to 21.
- $5.6 million saved by the Idaho Operations Office through activity-based costing to reduce costs and eliminate non-value-added work.
- $1.3 million saved at the Central Training Academy in New Mexico through use of distant learning media.
Reinvention is not new to DOE. Change has been on-going since the President appointed Hazel R. O'Leary to head the nation's nuclear weapons agency. The reinvented DOE also develops the world's most advanced environmental technologies to clean up contaminated weapons sites; conducts basic scientific research in biology, chemistry, and physics; and explores alternative sources of energy to replace our planet's dwindling oil reserves.
For More Information
For information, contact Christina Kielich, DOE Press Officer, at (202) 586-0581.
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HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY!!
National Performance Review, 750-17th St., NW, Suite 200, Washington, DC 20006
(202) 632-0223; FAX: (202) 632-0390; email: pat.wood@npr.gsa.gov.
To subscribe to Reinvention Express by email, send an email message to:Listproc@etc.fed.gov with this message:
SUBSCRIBE EXPRESS-L FIRSTNAME LASTNAME. (Put three spaces: after the word "SUBSCRIBE," after "EXPRESS-L," and after your FIRSTNAME.) For fax distribution, send your name, organization, fax and phone number to Pat Wood. Thanks to Steve Earle, Defense Mapping Agency, for assisting with this issue.