From Data to Decisions: Building an Analytics Culture July 11, 2013 Project Management Institute Washington, DC Chapter

Setting the Stage  Federal agencies face major fiscal decisions and must be able to justify what they do, why they do it and what the Nation gains from it.  Organization or program assessment need to be grounded in analytics to be meaningful and credible.  GPRA Modernization Act of 2010 gives renewed focus on analytics.  Response to Data to Decisions I: The Power of Analytics – “Tell us how to get started”. OURPUBLICSERVICE.ORG

Federal Agencies We Feature  Federal Emergency Management Agency (DHS) Recovery Directorate Logistics Management Directorate  Internal Revenue Service (Treasury) Office of Compliance Analytics  Bureau of Indian Affairs (Interior) Office of Justice Services  National Institutes of Health (HHS) National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases  Transportation Security Administration (DHS)  Food and Drug Administration (HHS) Center for Devices and Radiological Health Center for Drug Evaluation and Research OURPUBLICSERVICE.ORG

So, How Do You Do It?  Start with a systematic and disciplined approach.  Make analytics the way you do business.  Get the people piece right. OURPUBLICSERVICE.ORG

Start with a Systematic and Disciplined Approach  Gain a solid understanding of the agency’s program goals and objectives.  Revisit the basic activities of an agency, program, or unit. Determine the resources, conditions, and other factors contributing to those activities.  Tie the activities into the intended impact and link them to agency or program goals. OURPUBLICSERVICE.ORG

Make Analytics the Way You Do Business  Leaders at all levels need to live by example. Use data for decisions in an open and transparent manner. Incorporating analytics in day-to-day management can change attitudes, transform how work is done, and affect results.  Dispel fear. Promote data scrutiny as a way to enhance overall team performance. The analytics emphasis needs to be on learning how to improve performance, not on placing blame. OURPUBLICSERVICE.ORG

Get the People Piece Right  People are a critical piece to analytics. Try to have analytics staff work with program staff on individual projects to demonstrate the value of analytics.  Involving people with a wide range of expertise leads to new thinking and can help guide an organization toward desired outcomes.  Employ change management strategies as the analytics culture grows. Communicate purpose and vision. Engage staff and key stakeholders. Elicit feedback. Share information. OURPUBLICSERVICE.ORG

Conclusions  Revisiting the basics is fundamental to identifying what data is needed to achieve desired results.  Gain acceptance from staff and stakeholders to sustain success.  People need to feel ownership in the processes.  Leaders at all levels need to incorporate analytics as the way the agency does business. OURPUBLICSERVICE.ORG

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