Standardizing SES ratings was one recommendation of a study done last year by the President’s Management Council on ways to revitalize the SES. "This concept will significantly improve the certification process and the overall performance management of senior executives by providing a common framework and structure – while enabling agency customization – thereby improving consistency, clarity, transferability, efficiency, and accountability. A standard system will also foster a holistic approach for selecting, developing, appraising, recognizing, and retaining a diverse and high-performing cadre of federal executives," the memo said.
The most recent compilation of data on SES ratings, published by OPM last fall, showed that nearly half of execs were rated at the highest possible level in 2009, and nearly all of the rest were rated at the next highest. However, there was substantial variation by agency in percentages of top ratings given, although in some cases the number of execs involved was relatively small.
For example, AID gave top ratings to 85.7 percent of its career SESers, but that amounted to 18 out of 21. Similarly, NSF rated 81.6 percent of its execs at the highest level, 62 out of 76. Among large agencies, SSA, HHS and Justice gave the highest ratings, around 70 percent, while Energy, Interior, VA and Transportation all were around 40 percent or slightly below. OPM and OMB were among the lowest overall, giving top ratings to 30 and 33 percent of their career senior execs, respectively.
The report also showed that in recent years, ratings overall have crept upward slightly.
Berry’s memo is here: http://www.chcoc.gov/transmittals/TransmittalDetails.aspx?TransmittalID=4148
