1 / 18

Taxing Times: The Federal Efficiency Opportunity

Taxing Times: The Federal Efficiency Opportunity. [Release Date]. Sponsored by:. Introduction.

keaira
Download Presentation

Taxing Times: The Federal Efficiency Opportunity

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Taxing Times: The Federal Efficiency Opportunity [Release Date] Sponsored by:

  2. Introduction On November 10, 2010, President Obama’s Deficit Commission suggested a regimented plan to curb discretionary spending by 16 percent by 2015 – generating vociferous reaction on both sides of the aisle. How do we cut spending while maintaining service levels to the American public at this critical time? In March 2011, SAS worked with MeriTalk to survey 150 Federal financial, operations, and performance managers to understand how and where agencies are identifying and mining new efficiency opportunities, commitment to and support for such initiatives, obstacles to further optimization, and potential efficiency savings. 2

  3. Table of Contents • Executive Summary 4 • Key Findings 5 • Recommendations 14 • Methodology and Demographics 15 3

  4. Executive Summary • Upside/Downside:Feds know they need to save and see opportunity, but lack incentive and structure • Just 44% of Federal managers believe they have the funding needed to accomplish their goals in FY2012 • But, estimate that a better understanding of their spending could save their agencies $481B in FY2012* – an estimated 13% of their total budgets • Unfortunately, fewerthan one-third have a formal plan to identify spending inefficiencies • Hidden Money: Feds may be missing possible savings • Many review operational costs for efficiency opportunities, but few review program overlap or enterprise IT architecture • Less than half share best practices between departments; Just 54% say they identify redundant activities/opportunities for consolidation • Many managers (62%) rely on manually compiled reports and spreadsheets to uncover inefficiencies • Where From Here?:Feds offer suggestions to save • Feds say listening to employees, implementing targeted cuts, improving reporting, and creating real incentives will deliver savings 4 * Based on FY2012 proposed spending of $3.7 trillion, http://www.nytimes.com/packages/html/newsgraphics/2011/0119-budget/index.html

  5. Filling the Gap • Agencies need to spend smarter to preserve services Will your agency have the funding needed to accomplish goals in 2012?  Fewer than half (44%) say yes. Take Away:Innovation Priority 5

  6. The FUND-amental Opportunity • And, Feds see significant opportunity to save if they can gain a better understanding of spending What percentage of your total agency budget, if any, could your agency save with a better understanding of your spending? Feds estimate they can save 13% of their total agency budget, which translates to $481B in government-wide savings. Take Away:Insight Key to Innovation 6 * Based on FY2012 proposed spending of $3.7 trillion, http://www.nytimes.com/packages/html/newsgraphics/2011/0119-budget/index.html

  7. Structure Matters • While Feds are focused on efficiency, many do not have formal programs to identify and incentivize savings Have you specifically, or as part of a team, been asked to identify ways to save budget dollars within your department or agency? Three out of four SayYes. But Just one in three agencies has a formal plan to identify spending inefficiencies Take Away:It Takes More Than Inspiration 7

  8. Look Harder • Agencies are applying sound cost savings methodologies, inconsistently How does your agency find opportunities to increase efficiency/save money?* Review spending for unnecessary expenses (63%) Prioritize current expenses and review the low-priority items (59%) Identify redundant activities/opportunities for consolidation (54%) Conduct data analysis to monitor spending trends (49%) Share best practices between departments (45%) Take Away:Try New Angles 8 * Respondents asked to select all that apply

  9. Look Elsewhere • Agencies are applying sound cost savings methodologies, inconsistently In which of the following areas are you currently conducting data analysis to identify opportunities for increased efficiencies, productivity, or savings?* Many review operational costs, but few review program overlap or enterprise IT architecture. Feds should expand their search to uncover all possible savings. Take Away:Expand Your Search 9 * Respondents asked to select all that apply

  10. DoD vs. Civilian Saving • DoD More Scrutiny – Civilian More Sanguine In which of the following areas are you currently conducting data analysis to identify opportunities for increased efficiencies, productivity, or savings?* Do you believe your agency can reduce spending and still maintain the same levels of service? Civilian Agency DoD Contract Management 24% 48% Acquisition/Sourcing 14% 40% Management Metrics 30% 40% Yes. DoD: 52% Civilian: 66% Which of the following areas does your agency track? “ Civilian Agency DoD Spending by Project 55% 76% Prioritization of Spending By Senior Executives 19% 36% Take Away:Look Before You Leap 10 * Respondents asked to select all that apply

  11. What’s Holding Us Back? • Feds struggle to identify operations savings and overcome the “use it or lose it” mentality Which of the following are the most significant obstacles to improving efficiency and reducing costs for your agency?** In which of the following areas do you face the greatest challenge identifying savings or opportunities for greater efficiency?* Savings applications: Knowing that we have to spend our full budget to get it again next year (40%) #1 Program management: Insufficient controls and insight into program performance (31%) #2 Management: Management is not making it a priority (27%) #3 Legislative/ regulatory requirements Governance processes Operational costs Take Away: Reward Success * Respondents asked to select top three challenges ** Respondents asked to select top three obstacles

  12. Manual Labor • Many Federal managers rely on manually compiled reports and spreadsheets to uncover inefficiencies Top method used to analyze data*: #1 Response: Manually compiled reports and spreadsheets Take Away:Compounding Inefficiencies 12 * Respondents asked to select all that apply

  13. What Helps? New Top Statement – we were struggling with this one. Thoughts? • Noclear consensus What else could your agency do to show they are completely committed to finding spending inefficiencies? Which of the following does your agency track? #1 #2 #3 #4 Spending by Project 66% Agency Spending by Vendor 36% Prioritization of spending by Senior Executives 27% Anticipated/Achieved ROI by investment 23% • Allow more local control rather than • sweeping agency-wide directives • Make more formal reports indicating • their findings of where spending • could be cut • More closely examine duplication efforts across the government What one type of information would most help your agency identify opportunities to improve spending efficiency? #1 #2 #3 #4 Spending by Project 23% Prioritization of spending by Senior Executives 21% Anticipated/Achieved ROI by investment 15% Agency Spending by Vendor 4% Take Away: Own the Inefficiency

  14. Moving the Needle • Agencies are implementing some efficiency suggestions When opportunities are identified, how often are they implemented? Rarely Never Always Sometimes Often 43% of Feds say agencies always or often take advantage of savings ideas. Take Away:Why Not More?

  15. Obstacles • Feds say entrenched bureaucracy and lack of incentives hamper efforts to implement savings suggestions What are the key barriers to implementing suggestions for increasing efficiency/saving money? ? • “Sometimes you need to invest upfront to save money down the road, and that can be difficult to sell…” • “No incentive at the lower levels” • The bureaucracy of the system frequently prohibits new methods. Too many levels of approval and different views on efficiency create strained decisions. • Politicians protecting jobs in their districts. Employees trying to protect their own jobs. Management's failure to properly manage change. Take Away:Greater Potential

  16. Recommendations • Feds offer input*: • Listen: “Act upon ideas given by lower and mid-tier employees” • Rethink: “Eliminate across-the-board cuts and implement targeted cuts in programs. Eliminate legal and Congressional mandates that create more expense in the name of trying to dictate efficiencies from such high levels of government that they typically yield poor results in practical application.” • Improve Reporting: “More closely examine duplication of efforts across the government” • Put Incentives in Place: “Would have to be a part of senior management's performance plans” 16 *Question: What would your agency need to do differently to show they are completely committed to finding spending inefficiencies?

  17. Methodology and Demographics • MeriTalk, on behalf of SAS, conducted an online survey of 150 Federal financial, operations, and performance managers in March 2011. The report has a margin of error of +/- 7.97% at a 95% confidence level Respondent GS Levels 17

  18. Thank You [SAS Contact] – SAS Mary Tobin – MeriTalk mtobin@meritalk.com (503) 658-7396

More Related