Little engine that could
The Surface Transportation Board (STB) is so small its entire staff could squeeze into one Metrorail car, though with tight standing for sure.
But like the little engine that could, the agency, with 142 employees who regulate railroads, beats its larger siblings in an area that to some sounds like an oxymoron: government innovation.
The STB has the highest score, 87.7 out of 100, among all agencies on an innovation ranking issued by the Partnership for Public Service. “Board leaders encourage employees to make suggestions during a weekly open door meeting, and honor the best proposals with the agency’s own ‘genius’ award, presented at an annual ceremony,” says the Achieving a Culture of Innovation report.
But the report isn’t all good news.
While STB is at the top, the National Labor Relations Board is at the bottom of the small agency list. The Security and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) are at the bottom of the large agency rankings. And although 59.2 percent of surveyed federal employees said they are encouraged to find new and better ways of completing their mission, a paultry 38.8 percent said their agencies reward innovation and creativity.
Reward does not necessarily mean money. Recognition for their work and, significantly, empowering employees and allowing them to be involved in decision making are important factors in encouraging innovation.
“Most distressing,” said Max Stier, president and chief executive of the partnership, is the gap with the private sector, where 71 percent of employees say innovation is encouraged. (The Partnership has a content sharing relationship with The Washington Post.)
Peter Boogaard, a DHS spokesman, said that through the department’s “ThinkEfficiency campaign, employees are encouraged to find smart and creative ways to accomplish our mission and protect our country by cutting costs, streamlining processes, and eliminating duplication.”
John Nester, an SEC spokesman, took issue with the report.
“These rankings,” he said, “are based on outdated data that does not reflect a series of measures we’ve put in place to encourage innovative ideas and creating thinking.”
Twitter: @JoeDavidsonWP
Previous columns by Joe Davidson are available at wapo.st/JoeDavidson.
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