Freedom to Manage Update

NASA's Freedom to Manage (F2M) Task Force has been established to enable the fulfillment of initiatives associated with the President's Management Agenda for improving the management and performance of the federal government. The NASA F2M Task Force is actively addressing suggestions and has accomplished the following:

• Allocated NEX positions to Center
• Delegated Center reorganization approval to Center Directors
• Delegated Center Directors authority to approve awards up to $10K
• Streamlined senior position approvals
• Streamlined travel signature requirements
• Any NASA badge accepted at all NASA Centers including Hdqtrs
• Lifting of hiring controls

Earlier this month a listing of suggestions and possible resolutions that were within the control of Goddard was provided to all Goddard directorates. This information was also shared within the organizations where suggestions were known to have originated.

In addition, the F2M Task Force team has taken an aggressive approach to analyzing the issues raised, focusing first on those issues requiring legislative relief or reform. Eighteen Freedom to Manage legislative proposals have been incorporated into the FY2003 draft NASA authorization bill, and they can be viewed by visiting: http://www.f2m.nasa.gov/legislative.htm

Freedom to Manage town meetings are underway and will be held at each NASA Center. Goddard's town meeting is scheduled for Friday, Nov 8 and will begin in the bldg. 3 Goett Auditorium. This engagement presents an opportunity for employees to continue to identify barriers that get in the way of NASA's performance. Additional sessions will be held that day for addressing issues in human resources, financial management, procurement and other areas such as external activities/intellectual property. Further details of this meeting will follow.

The F2M Task Force continues to take any suggestions or input, please forwarded them to the Goddard representative Alda Simpson at: asimpson@pop700.gsfc.nasa.gov. For more information on Freedom to Manage, go to: http://f2m.nasa.gov/