The Dept. of Defense (DoD) is in the process of implementing its new human capital system for managing civilian personnel -- the National Security Personnel System (NSPS). Key components of NSPS include compensation, classification, and performance management Implementation of NSPS could have far-reaching implications, not just for DoD, but for civil service reform across the fed. gov¿t. As of Feb. 2009, about 205,000 civilian employees were under NSPS. This report determined: (1) the extent to which DoD has implemented internal safeguards to ensure NSPS was fair, effective, and credible; and (2) how DoD civilians perceive NSPS and what actions DoD has taken to address these perceptions. Illustrations.

Examines the extent to which the Department of Defense (DOD) has implemented internal safeguards to ensure that the National Security Personnel System (NSPS) is a fair, effective, and credible method of evaluating its civilian personnel. Also discusses how DOD civilians perceive NSPS and what actions DOD has taken to address these perceptions.

Human Capital: Improved Implementation of Safeguards and an Action Plan to Address Employee Concerns Could Increase Employee Acceptance of the National Security Personnel System

In 2004, the DoD began implementing the National Security Personnel System (NSPS) -- a human capital system for DoD civilians. NSPS significantly redesigned the way DoD civilians are hired, compensated, and promoted. This report assessed: (1) the extent to which DoD has implemented certain internal safeguards to ensure the fairness, effectiveness, and credibility of NSPS, and monitored their implementation; and (2) how DoD civilian personnel perceive NSPS, and the actions DoD has taken to address those perceptions. The report analyzed relevant documents and employee survey results, interviewed DoD officials, and conducted discussion groups with DoD employees at eight locations outside of the continental U.S. Illustrations.

Provides answers to these questions from Solomon Ortiz, U.S. House of Rep.: (1) What steps could have been taken to roll out NSPS in a more orderly and fair fashion and if NSPS continues, what steps should now be taken to move forward? (2) As DoD and OPM leadership hold discussions to determine the overall framework, scope, and timeline of the review, what guidance or suggestions would you give to DoD and OPM to include in the methodology of this study? (3) Under the GS system, an employee steadily moves up through the various grades and can monitor career progression. There appears to be no such similar movement in NSPS; an employee, while receiving pay increases and bonuses, may remain in the same pay band for his/her entire career. If this is a valid concern, how can it be addressed?

This is a print-on-demand publication; it is not an original. In 2007, the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence began developing a human capital system -- called the Defense Civilian Intelligence Personnel System (DCIPS) -- to manage Dept. of Defense (DoD) civilian intelligence personnel. This report examined the extent to which DoD has: (1) incorporated internal safeguards into DCIPS and monitored the implementation of these safeguards; and (2) developed mechanisms to identify employee perceptions about DCIPS. The report analyzed guidance, interviewed appropriate officials, and conducted discussion groups with employees at select DoD components. Includes recommendations. Charts and tables.