NASA ranked first among federal agencies according to a report, "Best Places to Work in the Federal Government," but leadership among the agencies received the lowest scores, according to a study completed by an AU Institute.
AU's Institute for the Study of Public Policy Implementation and the Partnership for Public Service released the results of the study yesterday.
The report provided rankings for 28 cabinet and independent departments as well as 200 sub-agencies on leadership, performance-based rewards and advancement, family-friendly culture and benefits.
"I'm a long-time believer that employee satisfaction is a major component of agencies because high employee satisfaction will increase productivity in the federal government," said Robert Tobias, director of the Institute and adjunct professor in the School of Public Affairs.
According to Tobias, 93 percent of 1.8 million federal workers were surveyed from 189 agencies.
Tobias first came up with the idea for the study and began working on the project over two years ago. At that time, there were no government surveys evaluating the differences between agencies.
"These rankings give agencies a baseline where they are and a roadmap to action ... to improve its standing," Tobias said. "Applicants are now going to have more information than they ever had before."
However, when the Office of Personal Management began conducting its Federal Human Capital Survey, Tobias approached them to ask if he could use their data for the study. Upon doing so, he then went to the Partnership to share costs.
Of the 10 categories, the agencies across the board received the lowest score and were said to be the highest impact was effective leadership capacity.
"Leadership capacity doesn't guarantee a high performance agency but poor leadership will ensure its failure," Tobias said.
Some are skeptical about NASA's ranking because of the lack of communication in safety that left seven crewmembers dead from the space shuttle Columbia in February. After thorough investigation, the Columbia Accident Investigation Board concluded that the agency did not have a strong safety culture and suffered from poor management and organization.
"This is good news for NASA and it speaks a great deal about employee satisfaction," Tobias said. "I think it's critical to its recovery as a federal agency."
Conducted over spring and summer last year, the information was in the stages of being processed when the incident occurred.
"The fact that NASA ranked first demonstrates that their employee workforce is poised for more great things in the future," said Max Stier, president of the Partnership.
"It really is a privilege and a pleasure to work at an agency where people are always striving to pioneer the future," said NASA Administrator Sean O'Keefe at a press conference. "I am delighted that NASA ranks consistently at or near the top in these and other categories you surveyed."
Astronomy professor Richard Berendzen is a past NASA headquarters employee and the current director of AU's chapter of NASA's D.C. Space Grant Consortium.
"It's impressive but I'm not that surprised," Berendzen said. "Their mission over there is exciting and it makes electricity run. You're dealing with some smart people over there from astronauts to graphics designers and computer specialists. There's a sense of comradery and pulling together."
Agencies ranked in the top five included the National Science Foundation, Office of Management and Budget, General Services Administration and Environmental Protection Agency.
To see the full results of the report, visit www.bestplacestowork.org.
