Managing for Excellence
Reclamation has prepared for the challenges of the 21st century by thoroughly examining our core capabilities in a number of key areas and our ability to respond in an innovative and timely manner to future needs. The Managing for Excellence Action Plan, published in February 2006, outlined a process and timeframe for identifying and addressing the specific 21st Century challenges to fulfill our mission to manage, develop, and protect water and related resources in an environmentally and economically sound manner in the interest of the American public.
An important catalyst for that evaluation effort was the National Research Council Report, “Managing Construction and Infrastructure in the 21st Century Bureau of Reclamation” (NRC Report), which examined several facets of our organization, practices, and culture. Each of the NRC Report’s recommendations was addressed in the Managing for Excellence Action Plan. This project resulted in essential changes in a number of key areas.
The Managing for Excellence Action Plan outlined specific action items organized under eight key functional areas :
- relationships with customers and other stakeholders;
- policies and organization;
- engineering and design services;
- major repair challenges;
- project management;
- asset sustainment;
- research and laboratory services; and
- human resources/work force.
There are some key principles and measures of success that we have strived to achieve through implementation of the action items. This includes making a priority of improving our stakeholder relationships. Reclamation proactively sought customer and stakeholder input through a comprehensive outreach strategy. That process included meetings, conference calls, and available web sites which were used to obtain input and explain process developments.
The Managing for Excellence Concluding Report is available and you may view the Final Products page.
