New "Performance Officer" Could Boost Visibility,
Impact of Quality, ASQ President Says

Hopefully President Obama's new chief performance officer will have truly "transformative" authority, ASQ President Roberto Saco says.

If the new CPO position within the federal Office of Management and Budget is limited to simple budgetary oversight, "it may mean better control of government expenditures, which would be no small feat, but nothing really groundbreaking," says Saco.

"On the other hand, if the role focuses on how work actually gets done or not done in government, the potential is transformational."

In January, Obama announced that Nancy Killefer, a senior executive at the consulting firm McKinsey & Company, would be the first person appointed to the new CPO position. Killefer subsequently withdrew her name from consideration after revelations that she failed to pay taxes on household help, but the Obama administration was expected to quickly name another candidate.

A CPO willing, able, and empowered to step beyond fiscal oversight and into the realm of process improvement could have profound effects on government efficiency, healthcare, education and other issues Obama has deemed key to rebuilding the U.S. economy, Saco says.

And a new emphasis on quality would mean "abundant opportunity" for ASQ members to help the country bring about real change. "One of ASQ's strengths is that we encompass a wide range of sectors and industries, so in essence ASQ members can play a part in just about any aspect of the president's call to action," he says.

Listening to Obama's inaugural address, he says, "the call to service was loud and clear."

While the U.S. economy is clearly in trouble, "great crises pose great opportunities for the right leader," Saco says. "I'm optimistic President Obama will seize the moment and help us reformulate America's place in the world. The possibilites are endless for those willing to reinvent themselves."

RELATED LINKS:

Quality Progress magazine is seeking contributors for its new Perspectives column, which links current events to quality issues. If you have a perspective to offer on Obama's inauguration or the role quality could play in rebuilding the economy, e-mail editor Seiche Sanders.

Through its Public Policy Advisory Council, ASQ is holding discussions with officials at the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to explore ways that ASQ can assist in implementation and ongoing operations of the OMB Performance Improvement Council.

And ASQ President Roberto Saco previously has expressed support for efforts by ASQ to reach out to the federal government’s newly appointed CPO.

A New York Times blog item explains the new CPO role, and Killefer's selection, in greater detail.

Video of President Obama being sworn in and delivering his inaugural address. PLUS a full transcript of the address.