National Aeronautics and Space Administration Measuring Ethics Program

National Aeronautics and Space Administration Measuring Ethics Program Performance National Government Ethics Summit 2020 Adam F. Greenstone Agency Counsel for Ethics NASA 1 www. nasa. gov

National Aeronautics and Space Administration Measurement & Ethics Engagement Measures may show quality of employee ethics engagement. Measures may show to improve employee ethics engagement. Measures can influence ethics program focus. Measures can inspire employee ethics engagement through resonance. Theme: When looking outward, look inward. 2 www. nasa. gov

Ethics Program Performance and SES/SL Performance Assessment National Aeronautics and Space Administration From SES/SL/ST Performance Management Checklist in OPM’s Performance Appraisal System Certification Reference Guide: Aligned Results: Each and every performance requirement/objective in the results-oriented critical element must 1) show clear, transparent alignment with organizational goals, 2) contain at least one main result and the applicable quality indicators for that result at the Fully Successful level, in measures compliance with 5 CFR 430. 305(a)(1); other of quantity, timeliness and cost-effectiveness should be included as applicable, and 3) differentially identify the result(s) and applicable measure(s). [Emphasis to “measures” added] 3 www. nasa. gov

What Measures Resonate with Your Workforce? National Aeronautics and Space Administration “Bottom Up” measurements Financial disclosure timeliness statistics. Ethics advice work volume/timeliness statistics (e. g. number of gift determinations, conflicts consultations, outside activity requests, employees trained). Or. . 4 www. nasa. gov

What Measures Resonate with Your Workforce? National Aeronautics and Space Administration “Top Down” Measurements Strategic objectives attained/protected (may also be qualitative) o 18 U. S. C. § 208(b) waivers ensuring key talent utilization. o Outside activity advice/approvals enhancing workforce development & retention. o Post-employment advice supporting national infrastructure development objectives. Enterprise values advanced o Positive Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey (FEVS) responses. 5 www. nasa. gov

National Aeronautics and Space Administration Ethics Program Focus Are you measuring actions affecting “top-down” outcomes? Are you measuring actions relating to higher severity ethics risks/exposures? Low Severity/Low Frequency Low Severity/High Frequency High Severity/Low Frequency High Severity/High Frequency How would you fill in these boxes for ethics-related risks? 6 www. nasa. gov

National Aeronautics and Space Administration Ethics Program Focus For high severity risks, a single achievement may be a measurable outcome. 7 www. nasa. gov

National Aeronautics and Space Administration NASA Measurement Experiences FEVS Question 54, “My organization’s senior leaders maintain high standards of honesty and integrity. ” In 2019, 77. 7% of NASA respondents agreed. 8 www. nasa. gov

National Aeronautics and Space Administration NASA Measurement Experiences (Con’t) FEVS supplemental questions: o FEVS Supplemental Question: “I am familiar with the government ethics rules that apply to my conduct as a federal employee. ” In 2019, 97. 3% of NASA respondents agreed. o FEVS Supplemental Question: “I know how to contact an ethics official at my agency for assistance in applying the government ethics rules. ” In 2019, 89. 9% of NASA respondents agreed. Customer/stakeholder survey. 9 www. nasa. gov

National Aeronautics and Space Administration FEVS—The Way Forward Examine data by subset, e. g. locations, job group, career stage. o Enhanced need to standardize data Build/maintain data as a baseline. Data triangulation, including anecdotal information. o Triangulation helps look back inward. 10 www. nasa. gov

National Aeronautics and Space Administration Measuring to Resonate When looking outward, look inward. What you measure is a choice. What resonant outcomes can you measure? 11 www. nasa. gov