OMB has issued guidance implementing a November executive order calling for a Performance Improvement Council consisting of performance improvement officers appointed by each agency head.
The officers will be charged with coordinating the performance management activities of the agency, including the development and improvement of strategic plans, annual performance plans, and annual performance reports, as well as ensuring the use of such information in agency budget justifications, according to a memo from OMB deputy management director Clay Johnson.
It said the officers would also be charged with ensuring program goals are aggressive, realistic, and accurately measured; regularly convening agency program management personnel to assess and improve program performance and efficiency; and assisting the head of the agency in the development and use within the agency of performance measures in personnel performance appraisals.
The council will establish program performance standards and evaluation criteria, exchange information among agencies, coordinate and monitor performance assessments, keep the public informed, obtain information and advice from stakeholders, and make policy recommendations, according to OMB memo M-08-06.
It said performance improvement officers may have other roles in the agency, though they should be senior enough to instill the policy of improving program performance every year and ensuring sufficient attention to this initiative to make that policy a reality now and in the future.
Agencies already have lead personnel for the performance improvement initiative — formerly the budget and performance integration initiative under the President’s Management Agenda, but the memo said the new performance officers would be held accountable for effectively helping the agency head perform the performance improvement responsibilities called for.
The first meeting of the council is scheduled for January 9 at the American Institute of Architects in Washington D.C.
