HUMAN CAPITAL: DOD's National Security Personnel System Faces Implementation Challenges
Abstract
The Department of Defenses (DOD) new personnel system-- the National Security Personnel System (NSPS)-- will have far-reaching implications not just for DOD, but for civil service reform across the federal government. The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2004 gave DOD significant authorities to redesign the rules, regulations, and processes that govern the way that more than 700,000 defense civilian employees are hired, compensated, promoted, and disciplined. In addition, NSPS could serve as a model for government-wide transformation in human capital management. However, if not properly designed and effectively implemented, it could severely impede progress toward a more performance- and results-based system for the federal government as a whole. This report (1) describes DODs process to design its new personnel management system, (2) analyzes the extent to which DODs process reflects key practices for successful transformations, and (3) identifies the most significant challenges DOD faces in implementing NSPS. GAO is making recommendations to improve the comprehensiveness of the NSPS communication strategy and to evaluate the impact of NSPS. DOD did not concur with one recommendation and partially concurred with two others.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jul 01, 2005
- Accession Number
- AD1169723
Entities
People
- Barbara L. Joyce
- Derek B. Stewart
- John S. Townes
- Julia C. Matta
- Mark A. Pross
- Rebecca L Galek
- Renee S. Brown
- Sandra F. Bell
- Susan K. Woodward
- William J. Rigazio
Organizations
- United States Government Accountability Office