DEPARTMENT
OF THE INTERIOR
Since it was established in 1849, the Interior Department
has consisted of semi-autonomous bureaus with diverse missions and strong,
independent cultures. Interior’s challenge is to improve efficiency
by managing common functions collectively. Interior has recently begun
to make significant progress in overcoming these century-old institutional
barriers, in part by effectively using an internal scorecard to monitor
the bureaus.
Initiative |
Status |
Process |
Human
Capital — Interior has developed a human capital strategy
that is generally aligned with mission, goals, and objectives.
It has also completed a final action plan to guide implementation
steps, such as an SES performance system and mid-career exchange
program. |
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Competitive
Sourcing — DOI has many work sites with few employees,
so it is taking the initiative to find more efficient ways to
review small groups. While these efforts are reflected in progress,
the limited number of cost comparisons completed to date is reflected
in status. |
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|
• |
Financial
Performance — Indian Trust Fund reform remains the greatest
financial management challenge facing Interior. DOI has done well
to correct eight FMFIA material weaknesses this past year, but
it still has several outstanding material weaknesses and non-compliance
issues. It also needs to incorporate its business processes into
its Enterprise Architecture. |
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|
• |
Expanding
E-Government —
DOI has documented its Capital Planning and Investment Control
process and drafted an initial Enterprise Architecture. It still
needs to better manage its IT portfolio and IT security. The Department
leads two e-gov initiatives: Recreation.gov and Geospatial one-stop.
|
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• |
Budget/Performance
Integration — Interior will soon release for public
comment a new, department-wide strategic plan to replace multiple
bureau-level plans. The draft plan has already helped formulate
the 2004 Budget, as well as other management initiatives. Three
bureaus already use activity-based costing to track and manage
costs, with all bureaus scheduled to do so by 2004. |
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|
• |
Program
Assessments
The PART
process resulted in new goals and performance measures for most of the
programs assessed. The Department performed slightly above the government-wide
PART average with six programs rated as Moderately Effective, two as Adequate,
and seven as Results Not Demonstrated. The last group will develop new
measures to better indicate effectiveness.
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