2.6: Cultural Transformation
Change USDA's culture and process to embrace open government and apply its principles to the day-to-day operations. Other Information:
Embracing open government and applying its principles to the day-to-day operations of USDA means changing the culture and
process. The ideas and functions that lead to transparency, participation, and collaboration are ones that need to be rooted
in all Department levels to truly achieve open government. The change must occur at all levels of the organization, from leadership
to staff and direct interaction with citizens. To meet the challenge of transforming the Department into a premier organization
and model employer, a Transformation Task Force was launched. This task force, led by the Secretary and comprised of a diverse
group of USDA leadership, is developing a plan to achieve cultural transformation at the Department. Leadership will oversee
the changes with input from employees. Making USDA a model employer that is open, responsive, transparent, collaborative,
and highly effective is a goal shared by all Department employees. Improving the way Government interacts and engages with
citizens leads to changes in operations and policies. Ultimately, this process will create overall cultural change. The Department’s
flagship initiatives will drive our cultural transformation to ensure that USDA is rightly perceived as a trustworthy, collaborative,
and service-oriented world agricultural leader. For example, USDA is exploring avenues to enhance existing efforts, such as
EPA’s Rulemaking Gateway, and provide a virtual one-stop center for anyone interested in a particular policy topic – with
information on the origin of the policy and its evolution, as well as training and education materials. Being open to new
channels of communication and collaboration among employees and citizens is one step toward cultural change. The rise of social
media and online interaction is a great enabler for this change. Opportunities for direct interaction with citizens have traditionally
been limited in number and scope, but new tools and technologies have decreased those limits. Constantly connected users can
share their ideas, view existing ideas, and provide feedback on any number of issues. Technology alone cannot change policies
and traditions. Steps will be made to change the policies as needed. The barriers that exist to employees and citizens embracing
technologies will be addressed in ways that maintain security while still allowing for open government. Employee engagement
is an important component for cultural change. USDA will modify performance plans and provide training, incentives, and awards
all designed to integrate Open Government core values into its everyday actions.
Objective(s):
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