Strategic Planning and Resource Assessment

Forest Service 2003 Success Stories

Success Stories: Service First! Brings Customer Service and Cost Savings

Since 1984, Lakeview , Oregon has been the scene for a mix of interagency ideas for one small, remote town. One great idea was the implementation of Service First! – a major success in human resources management (HRM). The Forest Service's Region 6 Office and the Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) State Office, and their respective local offices on the Fremont-Winema Forests and the BLM Lakeview District allow HRM to function as one agency.

The Fremont-Winema National Forests and the Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) Lakeview District have shared:

•  Administration of each other's jurisdictional areas

•  National Forest supervisors and BLM district managers, as they are detailed to each other's position

•  Other positions such as administrative officer, fleet manager, personnel officer, and public affairs officer

•  Office locations by collocating in one building, combining its day-to-day operations.

By doing so, Forest Service and BLM HRM employees:

•  Are cross-trained to use either agency's software, operating both National Finance Center (NFC) and National Business Center paychecks for both Forest Service and BLM employees

•  Meet either agency's deadlines/objectives by shifting the workforce to accomplish workload

•  Provide applicants and employees one unified service, formerly located in the BLM's State Office in Portland , Oregon . HRM costs for both agencies are proportionate to the Full Time Employees – FTEs – supported in their organization, thereby providing a full service HRM organization at less than full cost.

USDA Forest Service - Strategic Planning and Resource Assessment
Last Modified: Tuesday, 18 May 2004 at 11:33:53 EDT