The U.S. civil service personnel management system: a human-organization interface view
Loading...
Authors
Kilgore, Maura Rudy
Subjects
Human-organization interface
human systems integration
personnel
human systems integration
personnel
Advisors
Smith, Christian
Date of Issue
2014-12
Date
December 2014
Publisher
Monterey, California: Naval Postgraduate School.
Language
Abstract
The federal government’s rigidly structured civil service personnel management system creates a climate
of inflexibility and stasis, where length of service is prioritized above innovative, responsive performance.
The nature of work has changed in the nearly seven decades since the current personnel system was
implemented. Over time, the federal workforce has become increasingly knowledge-based,
professionalized, and mature.
At the macroergonomic level, the civil service personnel management organization is a system interface
through which human work performance and job design is managed. It is possible to evaluate problems
that exist within the human-organizational interface (HOI) and formulate recommendations for changes to
improve harmonization. This review identified and focused on specific elements within the personnel
management system that need to change. Effort should be applied by OPM and their component agencies
to target specific areas of rigidity, complexity, and hierarchical structure to improve the predictability,
adaptability, responsiveness, and flexibility of the civil service personnel management system. OPM should
translate the merit system principles through improved operational guidance to more accurately mirror and
more fully implement those principles. If this is accomplished, it will lead to improved harmonization
between the organizational system and civil service employees who interact with it.
Type
Thesis
Description
Human Systems Integration (HSI) Capstone
Department
Operations Research (OR)
Identifiers
NPS Report Number
Sponsors
Funder
Format
Citation
Distribution Statement
Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.
Rights
This publication is a work of the U.S. Government as defined in Title 17, United States Code, Section 101. Copyright protection is not available for this work in the United States.