On the fence and running out of time

Bring in the brains

Overworked officers could result in weaker U.S. borders. (Lenny Ignelzi/associated Press)

Issues involving the federal workplace can be complex and confusing -- and sometimes crazy. Now, some of the nation's sharpest minds will try to make sense of them. The Harvard Kennedy School and the University of Maryland School of Public Policy, in collaboration with the Office of Personnel Management, are planning a roundtable meeting Wednesday to discuss shaping the federal workforce.

Only a couple of dozen people will be allowed into the invitation-only program at the Reagan Building. Rank and file need not show up.

It's going to be an off-the-record affair for "a diverse group of leaders from the administration, unions, congress, the private and non-profit sector, along with other thought leaders," according to an announcement from David T. Ellwood, dean of the Kennedy School.

He outlined a tentative agenda, including:

-- What is the group's aspiration and vision for the government and federal workers in five to 10 years? What kinds of people and systems will that require?

-- What is the current and prospective state of government work, starting with recruitment and hiring to bring in the best people? Where are the greatest needs? What are the greatest impediments to achieving the government we desire?

-- What are the most innovative and practical ideas for transforming the hiring process? What are powerful examples of best practice in the private and nonprofit sectors? Where are the most powerful examples of government best practice?

-- What steps must be taken to move toward improving the system of hiring in government? And what must be done to begin work on a larger set of human capital issues?