FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, September 20, 2005
Contact: Jessica Robinson, 573-751-0290

Governor Recognizes Employees


Ideas Improve Efficiency and Productivity

JEFFERSON CITY—Gov. Matt Blunt today recognized six teams of state employees with the prestigious Governors Award for Quality and Productivity for maximizing resources and increasing efficiency, while improving processes and service to Missouri citizens.

This year marks the 17th anniversary of recognizing the collective efforts of selected teams in state government that continuously increase quality and productivity. However, this year marks the first time the GAQP will go to one of each of the six categories, which are Customer Service, Efficiency, Workforce Planning, Innovation, Technology in Government, and Process Improvement. A selection committee comprised of senior level executives recommended the 6 winning teams that received the award at a ceremony in the Capitol. A total of 39 teams submitted an application for these awards. All winning nominations must meet clearly defined requirements relative to effectiveness, responsiveness and efficiency of such quality that would make any of the winning projects a model of excellence in state government nationally.

Blunt told the audience in the Capitol Rotunda that the recipients represent a sample of the tremendous quality of Missouri state government. “I am proud of the men and women honored here today,” Blunt said. “Their commitment to excellence and focused efforts to deliver improved services exemplify our state’s new direction towards improved efficiency, maximum personal productivity, and a government that delivers results.”

The following is a brief description of each team’s project:

CUSTOMER SERVICE - Telecommunication Access Program (TAP) Team Office of Administration

Until recently, Missouri lagged behind other states in providing adaptive telecommunications equipment for individuals with disabilities. Missouri’s program provided limited adaptive devices and was operated by an out-of-state contractor unfamiliar with Missouri resources. No support services were provided, which resulted in consumers obtaining equipment that did not meet their disability needs. Nearly one in every three dollars of program costs was used for administrative expenses.

Missouri Assistive Technology began administration of the Telecommunications Access Program (TAP) in late 2000. The TAP team researched other state programs, identified best practices, and implemented a new program with no down time to consumers. Since then the team has increased four fold the number of consumers who obtain equipment through the program, decreased costs per device through competitive bidding, utilized local resources to provide consumer support services, and decreased the percentage of administrative costs. Consumer satisfaction is extremely high, and TAP has received multiple awards and national recognitions.

EFFICIENCY - Fleet Management Team Office of Administration, Department of Agriculture, Department of Corrections, Department of Conservation, Department of Economic Development, Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, Department of Health and Senior Services, Commission for Higher Education, Department of Insurance, Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, Missouri Lottery Commission, Department of Mental Health, Department of Natural Resources, Department of Public Safety, Department of Revenue, Department of Social Services, Department of Transportation, State Tax Commission

A number of attempts to establish a centralized fleet management program had failed over the past several years; however, the Fleet Management Team garnered critical legislative and top management support to implement lasting and necessary change in agency fleet practices.

The Fleet Management Team was formed to improve the efficiency of the state vehicle fleet and accomplished a number of notable achievements:

INNOVATION - State Property Insurance Team Office of Administration

Catastrophic events, such as September 11th, hurricanes and earthquakes, ushered in a wave of changes within our society and substantially impacted the insurance industry. Losses and lower market returns set in motion the pendulum swing toward higher rates and diminished coverage. The state was not immune from these market forces.

Dramatically higher insurance costs were coming at a time when the state could least afford the added expense. The State Property Insurance Team investigated options and designed an innovative risk financing technique, not known to be used by any other state. Using the financial strength of the state, this unique fund would pay claims and satisfy the legal and financial obligations to bondholders. The team drafted legislation, garnered legislative support and prepared coverage documents and implementation procedures.

Savings exceed $2 million in the first two years since the Property Preservation fund was implemented.

PROCESS IMPROVEMENT - Practical Design Team Department of Transportation

Improving Missouri’s roadways and bridges has become increasingly challenging due to the size of the system (7th nationally) and limited funding (44th in revenue per mile). By the time MoDOT realizes the full economic benefits of last year’s passage of Amendment 3, MoDOT’s position in revenue per mile will climb only two places to 42nd. With the short-term prospects for additional funding unlikely, the department needs to find ways to design, build and maintain our transportation system better, faster and cheaper in order to build public confidence. At the root of the Practical Design initiative is a challenge to department staff to “think outside the box.” By creatively designing and constructing projects that discuss on the root need of the improvement, we introduce opportunities to save project costs. These savings will then be applied to new projects to help further improve the system of Missouri’s roadways.

TECHNOLOGY IN GOVERNMENT – Kansas City Scout Ethernet Communication Network Team Department of Transportation

In Kansas City, the Missouri Department of Transportation implemented one of the most advanced transportation managements systems in the country – Kansas City Scout.

Scout uses an extensive network of traffic operations system field elements including 88 Closed Circuit Television Cameras, 38 Dynamic Message Signs, Highway Advisory Radio, and hundreds of Vehicle Detector Stations to help maximize roadway capacity, reduce air pollution, improve emergency response times, and provide safer freeway travel to the general public.

The Scout network uses sophisticated fiber-optic gigabit Ethernet and IP-addressable controller technologies to provide an environment that is much easier to integrate, maintain and operate. Throughout the deployment of this innovative communications design and newly-developed centralized system software, MoDOT has been able to implement center-to-field national standards to a degree not seen in metropolitan traffic management systems previously deployed throughout the nation.

WORKFORCE PLANNING - Flexible Scheduling Team Department of Mental Health

The Biggs, Cognitive Behavior Rehabilitation Program (CBRP) Scheduling Team was chartered based on the DMH-wide Workplace Improvements initiative to identify the issues driving employee satisfaction – particularly the front-line Direct Care staff. Employees would not be getting significant raises and their workplace, by its very nature, is a difficult environment with low morale. The initial team conducted employee focus groups to gather feedback. The staff wanted:

The team recommended exploring flexible scheduling models, as the Direct Care Staff only worked eight-hour shifts in the day, evening or night. A pilot program was initiated in Fulton at the Biggs CBRP unit.


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