1 U.S. Census Bureau Census Bureau’s FY 2010 Priority Setting Process Thomas L. Mesenbourg June 16, 2010

2 AGENDA What is it? Why? Strategic Themes What Have We Done? Next Steps Census Bureau’s FY 2010 Priority Setting Process

3 What Is It? The new process is designed to: Surface programmatic challenges Identify strategic cross-cutting priorities that respond to the challenges Solicit proposals that address the priorities, and Fund those proposals that offer the greatest opportunity to reduce costs & increase operational efficiency Be sustainable Census Bureau’s FY 2010 Priority Setting Process

4 Why? Sustainability of Census programs will rely on increasing their cost efficiency…. Constrained Federal budgets New funding for program improvements will become more difficult Census Bureau must generate its own capital investment funds by rigorously reviewing its programs, processes and products Eliminating duplicative or unnecessary activities, streamlining and re-engineering processes, implementing more cost- effective and standardized methods can free resources for needed investments Census Bureau’s FY 2010 Priority Setting Process

5 Why? Toward this end, the Census Bureau’s FY 2010 priority setting process is meant to identify strategic priorities & cost efficiency opportunities…. Areas are based both on bottom-up ideas related to the major challenges we will face over the next several years and top-down judgments on the key themes that should shape our strategic priorities The following themes will help shape bureau-wide strategic initiatives and aid Directorates, Divisions and Offices, and staff in identifying proposals that will improve operational efficiency. Census Bureau’s FY 2010 Priority Setting Process

6 Strategic Themes Improving Internal and External Collaboration Using Adaptable, & Resilient Methods and Procedures Simplifying and Standardizing Work Processes Making Data-driven Operational Decisions through Innovative Analysis and Use of Data Establishing Wise Governance and Instituting Organizational Standards Census Bureau’s FY 2010 Priority Setting Process

7 What Have We Done? Talked with other statistical agencies about their successes and challenges in dealing with innovation Issued call to staff to identify major challenges facing agency in the next 3 to 5 years (identified 75 challenges) Conducted 2 senior management meetings where we discussed and categorized challenges and clarified higher-level strategic themes Prioritized themes & strategic priorities at 4/27/10 senior management meeting Census Bureau’s FY 2010 Priority Setting Process

8 What Have we Done? Held numerous luncheon meetings with Census Bureau staff to communicate and encourage ideas Issued call for proposals on 5/13/10 Cut off date to submit proposals was 5/28/10 Received 676 proposals within our organization Over 200 from Headquarters & over 460 from the field Many ideas are complimentary or overlapping, so it is likely that some of the proposals will be combined in the business case phase Thank you message sent to all proposal submitters Census Bureau’s FY 2010 Priority Setting Process

9 Next Steps Director, Deputy Director and Review Teams are currently reviewing and evaluating proposals Proposals will be available on an internal blog for employees to view Senior management will determine proposals that will submit a short business case at a 7/8/10 meeting Business cases due 8/13/10 Census Bureau’s FY 2010 Priority Setting Process

10 Proposal Selection Business cases will be posted on internal blog Employees will be invited to provide feedback regarding their favorite proposal Senior management will evaluate proposals and determine which to fund based on: –Positive Return on Investment realized within at least 3 years –Proposals should impact more than a single Directorate –Reduces costs/improves operational efficiency Census Bureau’s FY 2010 Priority Setting Process