Human Resources Roles and Responsibilities Study Report

		MEMORANDUM

											
February 8, 2000

To:		All USGS Employees

From:		Barbara J. Ryan
		Associate Director for Operations

Subject:	Human Resources Roles and Responsibilities Study Report

The U.S. Geological Survey’s (USGS) Human Resources Roles and 
Responsibilities Team was chartered in 1998 to identify how the 
administration of personnel functions, processes, and systems could be 
improved and streamlined; which systems and functions could be centralized 
or decentralized; where (organizationally) human resources work should be 
performed; and what resources are needed to perform this work.  The study 
team included human resources experts, an administrative officer, a 
scientific manager, and a scientist and was chaired by a consultant from 
the National Academy of Public Administration.  Members were:

	Curt Dierdorff, National Academy of Public Administration
	Bill Fordyce, Office of Program Support, Reston, Virginia
	Anne E. Gartner, Geology, Menlo Park, California
	Vicki Gray, Office of Program Support, Reston, Virginia
	Marilyn Meyers, Mapping, Rocky Mountain Mapping Center, Denver, 
Colorado
	Alice Sabatini, Water Resources, Reston, Virginia
	Greg Smith, Biology, Reston, Virginia
	Laure Wallace, Geology, Reston, Virginia

In late 1999, the team completed its report and recommendations.  I am 
pleased to share with you an on-line copy at 
http://www.usgs.gov:8888/ops/hro/documents/roles/index.html .  Several of 
the team’s findings and recommendations have already been implemented.  
For example, the Headquarters Personnel Office has recently realigned 
classification and staffing responsibilities to satisfy customer 
expectations and preferences that were identified during the Human 
Resources study.  Also, as you read through the report, you will notice 
that it is consistent with the Director’s vision for “One Bureau, One 
Mission, One Message.”

The data gathered during the study came from a wide variety of resources 
including surveys and focus groups within the USGS and external 
benchmarking with other successful Federal organizations.  As a result, 
the report is an impressive and rich source of data related to human 
resources for managers and administrative staff within the USGS.  I 
believe the team’s effort is a fine example of the way dedicated employees 
can make a difference to streamline our administrative processes and 
procedures.  I encourage you to take a look at the report.  Please feel 
free to contact Bob Hosenfeld at 703/648-7442 or rwhosenfeld@usgs.gov with 
specific questions or comments.