United States Institute of Leadership and Diplomacy
A Division of Orpe Human Rights Advocates
Shining Light in the Midst of Darkness
Workforce Succession Planning
Public sector organizations find themselves in a time in which the demand for services has increased, the expectation for quality service is high, and the accountability for results is exceptional. Agencies must be results-driven, citizen-centered, and market-based. In an effort to improve and enhance organizational effectiveness and to drive Government agencies toward becoming high performing organizations, we work with agencies to develop workforce and succession planning processes at local, national and international levels.
Workforce Succession Planning
To become a high performing organization requires an investment in the people working in the organization and an understanding of customer and stakeholder needs. The demand for talent continues to be high as corporations compete for the limited pool of highly skilled candidates.
We work with agencies to develop effective workforce and succession planning strategies and measures. We address issues such as workforce environmental concerns, the need to review functionality of jobs, workforce forecasting, career/occupation broadening, and the need to better utilize existing recruitment and retention strategies. Workforce and succession planning is a multi-year approach to human capital management.
Glossary
Agency
An Executive agency, which is defined by 5 U.S.C. 105 as an Executive department, a Government corporation, and an independent establishment.
Automatic High-Risk Conditions for Public Trust
These conditions are duties that present the possibility of the gravest impact to the public’s trust, likely to produce inestimable damage. The degrees of potential impact are broadly defined. It is necessary to look at each public trust duty and evaluate the entire row of example duties provided to establish context to determine the scope of potential impact to the public’s trust. This reveals the potential damage to the integrity and efficiency of the service and the public’s trust.
Close Technical Supervision
Continuing review of all work by a technical expert, such as:
-
The supervisor provides continuing or individual assignments by indicating generally what is to be done, limitations, quality and quantity expected, deadlines, and priority of assignments.
-
The supervisor provides additional, specific instructions for new, difficult, or unusual assignments, including suggested work methods or advice on source material available. The employee uses initiative in carrying out recurring assignments independently without specific instructions, but refers deviations, problems, and unfamiliar situations not covered by instructions to the supervisor for decision or help. The supervisor assures that finished work and methods used are technically accurate and in compliance with instructions or established procedures. Review of the work increases with more difficult assignments if the employee has not previously performed similar assignments.
-
For both one-of-a-kind and repetitive tasks, the supervisor makes specific assignments accompanied by clear, detailed, and specific instructions. The employee works as instructed and consults with the supervisor as needed on all matters not specifically covered in the original instructions or guidelines. For all positions the work is closely controlled. For some positions, the control is through the structured nature of the work; for others, it may be controlled by the circumstances in which it is performed. In some situations, the supervisor maintains control through review of the work. This may include checking progress or reviewing completed work for accuracy, adequacy, and adherence to instructions and established procedures.
Critical-Sensitive Positions
As defined in 5 CFR 1400.201(a)(2), critical-sensitive positions are, “national security positions which have the potential to cause exceptionally grave damage to the national security.” Also, in accordance with 5 CFR 1400.201(c) a critical-sensitive position automatically carries with it a risk designation under 5 CFR 731.106 at the high level.
Critical and Extremely Important Items of War
Those items vital to success in war, or without which success would be unlikely.
Customer Service
Customer care duties that support the delivery of an agency’s services. The scope of the word “customer” would be defined based upon the duties outlined in the position description. For example, one agency’s customers might be other Government agencies, but a different agency may primarily serve non-Government entities or the general public (e.g. the duties of employees with the General Services Administration vs. those of a Social Security Administration employee); however, that is not to suggest every employee of those agencies would be assumed to have customer service responsibilities; that is defined by the specific duties of the job.
Damage to the National Security
E.O. 13526 characterizes damage to the national security as “harm to the national defense or foreign relations of the United States from the unauthorized disclosure of information, to include sensitivity, value, and utility of that information.”
Exceptionally Grave Damage to the National Security
The capacity to cause extremely serious harm to the national security. Also, the minimum level of damage an incumbent’s neglect, action or inaction must have the potential to cause for a position to be designated as critical-sensitive.
Inestimable Damage to the National Security
The capacity to cause harm to the national security too severe to be computed or measured. Also, the minimum level of damage an incumbent’s neglect, action or inaction must have the potential to cause for a position to be designated as special-sensitive.
Information Technology
As defined in OMB Circular A-130, information technology is, "any equipment or interconnected system or subsystem of equipment, that is used in the automatic acquisition, storage, manipulation, management, movement, control, display, switching, interchange, transmission, or reception of data or information by an executive agency. For purposes of the preceding sentence, equipment is used by an executive agency if the equipment is used by the executive agency directly or is used by a contractor under a contract with the executive agency which (i) requires the use of such equipment, or (ii) requires the use, to a significant extent, of such equipment in the performance of a service or the furnishing of a product. The term "information technology" includes computers, ancillary equipment, software, firmware and similar procedures, services (including support services), and related resources. The term "information technology" does not include any equipment that is acquired by a Federal contractor incidental to a Federal contract. The term "information technology" does not include national security systems as defined in the Clinger-Cohen Act of 1996 (40 U.S.C. 1452)."
Information System
As defined in OMB Circular A-130 an information system is, "a discrete set of information resources organized for the collection, processing, maintenance, transmission, and dissemination of information, in accordance with defined procedures, whether automated or manual."
Limited Impact to the Public's Trust
Likely to produce some harm or discernible damage to the public’s trust. The degrees of potential impact are broadly defined. It is necessary to look at each public trust duty and evaluate the entire row of example duties provided to establish context to determine the scope of potential impact to the public’s trust. This reveals the potential damage to the integrity and efficiency of the service and the public’s trust.
Limited or No Supervision
Occasional review from a perspective of major policy issues by a superior who likely has no relevant expertise in the technical aspects of the duties performed.
The supervisor provides administrative direction with assignments in terms of broadly defined missions or functions. The employee has responsibility for independently planning, designing, and carrying out programs, projects, studies, or other work. Results of the work are considered technically authoritative and are normally accepted without significant change. If the work should be reviewed, the review concerns such matters as fulfillment of program objectives, effect of advice and influence on the overall program, or the contribution to the advancement of technology. Recommendations for new projects and alteration of objectives usually are evaluated for such considerations as availability of funds and other resources, broad program goals, or national priorities.
Moderate Impact to the Public's Trust
Likely to produce a fair amount of harm or serious damage to the public’s trust. The degrees of potential impact are broadly defined. It is necessary to look at each public trust duty and evaluate the entire row of example duties provided to establish context to determine the scope of potential impact to the public’s trust. This reveals the potential damage to the integrity and efficiency of the service and the public’s trust.
National Security
As defined in 5 CFR 1400.102(a), national security "refers to those activities which are directly concerned with the foreign relations of the United States, or protection of the Nation from internal subversion, foreign aggression, or terrorism."
Noncritical-Sensitive Positions
As defined in 5 CFR 1400.201(a)(1) noncritical-sensitive positions are, “national security positions which have the potential to cause significant or serious damage to the national security”. Also, in accordance with 5 CFR 1400.201(d) a noncritical-sensitive position automatically initially carries with it a risk designation under 5 CFR 731.106 at the moderate level, unless the agency determines that the position should be designated at the high level. Agencies shall designate the position at the high level where warranted on the basis of criteria set forth in OPM issuances as described in 5 CFR 731.102(c).
Periodic Review
Ongoing spot review from a perspective of policy and organizational concerns by a superior with expertise in the technical aspects of the duties performed.
The supervisor sets the overall objectives and resources available. The employee and supervisor, in consultation, develop deadlines, projects, and work to be done. The employee, having developed expertise in the line of work, is responsible for planning and carrying out the assignment, resolving most of the conflicts that arise, coordinating the work with others as necessary, and interpreting policy on own initiative in terms of established objectives. In some assignments, the employee also determines the approach to be taken and the methodology to be used. The employee keeps the supervisor informed of progress and potentially controversial matters. Completed work is reviewed only from an overall standpoint in terms of feasibility, compatibility with other work, or effectiveness in meeting requirements or expected results.
OR
The supervisor makes assignments by defining objectives, priorities, and deadlines and assists the employee with unusual situations that do not have clear precedents. The employee plans and carries out the successive steps and handles problems and deviations in the work assignments in accordance with instructions, policies, previous training, or accepted practices in the occupation. Completed work is usually evaluated for technical soundness, appropriateness, and conformity to policy and requirements. The methods used in arriving at the end results are not usually reviewed in detail.
Severe Impact to the Public's Trust
Likely to produce a substantial degree of harm or serious damage to the public’s trust. The degrees of potential impact are broadly defined. It is necessary to look at each public trust duty and evaluate the entire row of example duties provided to establish context to determine the scope of potential impact to the public’s trust. This reveals the potential damage to the integrity and efficiency of the service and the public’s trust.
Significant or Serious Damage to the National Security
The capacity to cause noteworthy harm to the national security. Also, the minimum level of damage an incumbent’s neglect, action or inaction must have the potential to cause for a position to be designated as noncritical-sensitive.
Significant Personal Gain
Noticeably or measurably benefiting an individual’s interests in a substantial way (e.g. a large monetary or other valuable personal benefit, benefit to one’s family or friends, etc.; providing a level of affluence or a lifestyle otherwise not justifiable).
Special-Sensitive Positions
As defined in 5 CFR 1400.201(a)(3) special-sensitive positions are, “national security positions which have the potential to cause inestimable damage to the national security.” Also, in accordance with 5 CFR 1400.201(c) a special-sensitive position automatically carries with it a risk designation under 5 CFR 731.106 at the high level.