CURRENT PROCESS:
In accordance with 5 CFR 451, Department of Defense Components facilitates innovation through a number of incentive programs designed to recognize submitters for their suggestions which improve the efficiency, economy, and effectiveness of the DoD and federal government operations. To name a few, the US Navy operates the “MILCAP Program”, the US Army and the US Marines manage individual “Incentive
...more »
CURRENT PROCESS:
In accordance with 5 CFR 451, Department of Defense Components facilitates innovation through a number of incentive programs designed to recognize submitters for their suggestions which improve the efficiency, economy, and effectiveness of the DoD and federal government operations. To name a few, the US Navy operates the “MILCAP Program”, the US Army and the US Marines manage individual “Incentive Awards Programs”, the US Air Force oversees the “IDEA Program”, and DFAS maintains the “Bright Ideas Suggestion Program”. Prescribed regulations provide a formal structure for personnel to channel their practical suggestions to reduce costs and improve productivity directly to functional management and approving authorities. These regulations also designate the use of monetary, non-monetary and honorary incentive awards as means of incentivizing both military and civilian employees through the programs.
Each program establishes submission qualification criteria and guidelines for acceptance into the process. Provided there is adequate content, some idea submissions “make the cut” and move to the evaluation phase. Other submissions are returned to the submitter IAW program directives, such as those which lack justifying information, aren’t in proper format, or those which require an alternate vehicle to transmit.
Sometimes these “front-end” screening processes are so stringent, or written policy is so convoluted and left open to the interpretation of program managers, that a great number of valuable ideas are screened out entirely and turned back to the submitter with a negative response. Compounded with potentially eliminating worthwhile ideas is the human emotions factor when an employee, who took time to research and submit, is taken aback by a message stating their idea is not eligible or accepted into the process. Often they misconstrue the communication to mean their idea was unwelcomed, invaluable, or disapproved, and go no further in their pursuit to improve the government.
Bottom line, unintended barriers to innovation in DoD incentive program policy reduces DoD’s ability to capitalize on the creative efforts of their employees.
PROPOSED PROCESS:
Improve the Effectiveness of DoD Incentive Programs by:
1) Removing unintended barriers to innovation in DoD incentive program policy
--Review DoD and Component incentive program guidelines for convoluted language
--Provide clarity in program directives
--Loosen/broaden submission qualification criterion
--Eliminate Component-uniques qualification criterion
--Ensure equity across DoD Component programs
2) Enhancing DoD’s ability to capitalize on the creative efforts of their employees
--Facilitate innovation rather than “dis-incentivizing”
--Help employees develop ideas that were turned back in the process for add’l information
--Share “good ideas” with other stake-holder DoD Components
--Identify special reserve of funds to quickly fund innovative ideas
--Audit approved submissions to ensure EVERY idea was implemented and the submitter recognized
BENFITS AND SAVINGS:
Although there is no direct link to tangible savings, improving the effectiveness of DoD Incentive Programs by removing unintended barriers to innovation in program policy and enhancing DoD’s ability to capitalize on the creative efforts of their employees will produces many intangible benefits from ideas approved through incentive programs:
--Increases employee awareness of their continuous role in contributing to resource savings
--Improves morale through a working process that facilitates innovation and gives recognition where due
--Encourages greater incentive program participation
--Captures fresh ideas from persons closest to the process
--Reduces “innovation-killers”
--Improves efficiency, increases output, enhances productivity
--Enhances mission capability
--Provides initiatives for replication producing wider benefit
--Simplifies or improves operations, procedures, operating methods
--Saves time, eliminates waste, saves materials
--Promotes health, increases safety,
TERMS:
DFAS: Defense Finance and Accounting Service
DoD: Department of Defense
IAW: In accordance with
IDEA: Innovative Development through Employee Awareness Program
MILCAP: Military Cash Awards Program
« less
full details »
