State government strategic planning moves forward under Parson

Missouri Gov. Mike Parson
Missouri Gov. Mike Parson

Even with last month's change of governors, Missouri government's administrators are moving forward with a new strategic management initiative that lists each department's priorities and how they expect to reach them.

"There has always been a lot of talk about making government run more efficiently and effectively for Missourians," new Gov. Mike Parson said in a statement. "Now, we are actually doing something about it. These new management principles are simple, back-to-basics reforms that we need in our state government."

The state's department heads began working on them last year under then-Gov. Eric Greitens, who had hired most of them - and who said in a May 3 news release: "Government is more focused, less expensive, and working better for the people, because of new, strong professional management."

During a 20-minute interview last week, Drew Erdmann, the state's chief operating officer, told the News Tribune the emphasis is on having the "improvements that are going on in government (be) common-sense, back-to-basics improvements."

It was a point he repeated several times during the conversation.

"At the end of the day, this is about serving citizens better," Erdmann added. "And as part of that, the basic idea has been - as with any organization - you need to have clear priorities. We need to have them be not just bullet-points on a page but actually drive real impact."

Sarah Steelman, Missouri's commissioner of Administration, said she regularly reviews her department's progress in meetings with leaders of the various divisions.

At those meetings, she explained, we "made sure we were all on the same path to delivering the right stuff at the right price and at the right time - and driving change that way."

That's happening throughout state government, she said.

"Cabinet members are very actively engaged in making these things happen," Steelman said, "and that's really the only way it's going to work, to actually get true transformation of government accomplished."

Still, Erdmann said, achieving some of the priorities will be more visible to the public than others - and it will be a long process.

Starting last year, the governor's Cabinet members discussed the overall goals of improving state operations, while each department's directors and managers developed individual plans.

A number of factors was considered as the decisions were made, including conversations with residents and lawmakers, focus groups with state employees and state workers' comments on internal survey about working conditions and operations.

Erdmann said those discussions and plans didn't ignore good things that were done in the past.

"In many cases, we're trying to identify what works," he said. "In many examples, there have been successes in certain departments - and the question is: 'How do you get other departments to learn from those experiences, as well?'"

The final plans were presented in a common scheme: each department developed an "aspiration" that is its overall goal for at least the next five years.

To achieve their aspirations, each department established at least three "themes" as the main lines of effort to reach their overall goals.

And under each "theme" is a series of "initiatives," or shorter-term priorities - usually to be completed within a year or less - to advance the "themes" and ultimately achieve the "aspiration."

Each department can set new initiatives as needed.

"There's a lot of them that are 'inside baseball,'" Erdmann acknowledged. "If you're really inside these organizations, they're very important within those organizations - but probably not to a general reader.

"Some of them the public will probably never see directly. But hopefully they'll see indirectly improved performance through time."

The overall goal is to have strategic plans that will continue, even when the governor's office and department directorships change.

Steelman - whose past career includes being state treasurer, a state senator and a college economics professor - said the goal is to be "completely non-partisan."

"It is really our job to make this sustainable through administrations in the future, whether they're Democratic or Republican," she said, "because you can't argue with (goals like) 'We will protect health and keep the people of Missouri safe.'"

Lawmakers already have supported some of the initiatives with budget assistance.

In his first month as governor, Parson has emphasized focuses on economic and workforce development and on infrastructure improvements.

As one of the more public efforts toward those goals, Erdmann pointed to Wednesday's "Best In the Midwest" forum in St. Louis - where Economic Development Director Rob Dixon and Higher Education Commissioner Zora Mulligan discussed their departments' joint emphasis on improving training for the state's workforce, and listened to others' comments about that.

"When the Governor's Conference on Economic Development takes place in Kansas City in September," Erdmann explained, "they're going to be unveiling this is the new economic development strategy for the state."

That planning began before Greitens resigned June 1, but has remained under Parson.

Another example of public awareness, Erdmann said, is the Department of Health and Senior Services' focus on fighting opioid misuse.

Last week, a DHSS news release noted the number of opioid-related deaths in Missouri was higher in 2017 than in 2016, but "the rate of increase in opioid deaths was markedly reduced compared to the previous year."

Dr. Randall Williams, the department's director, said in the news release: "We recognize that one loss is too many and we are committed to working as hard as we can to decrease the number of deaths."

But, Erdmann said, a Department of Revenue effort to improve its internal service culture and reduce call center wait times for customers is "already demonstrating real improvements" but may escape the general public's attention.

"There's still a long way to go, and let me not sugarcoat this," Erdmann added, "it took us years to get where we are and, in some respects, it's going to take us a long time to work our way out."

Parson said: "We are proud of the work that's being accomplished to deliver results and move Missouri forward."

The overall explanation of the strategic management priorities, with links to each department's list, can be found at strategicchange.mo.gov.

Here's an overview of each department's "aspiration" and supporting "themes."

  • Office of Administration

We will accelerate change across state government with superior services and support.

THEMES

Deliver the right stuff at the right price and at the right time.

Use data and analytics to improve decision-making and transparency.

Build the state of Missouri workforce for the future.

Partner to innovate the way we work.

  • Department of Agriculture

We will protect and promote Missouri's agriculture industry by doing MORE.

THEMES

Empower MORE farmers, agri-businesses, and MDA employees.

Connect MORE Missourians and communities.

Reach MORE consumers to promote and protect agriculture.

Feed MORE Missouri citizens.

  • Department of Conservation

We will ensure Missouri is a national treasure for fish, forest and wildlife resources.

THEMES

Sustain and improve fish, forest, and wildlife resources.

Enhance the relevance of conservation.

Connect Missourians with fish, forest and wildlife resources.

Strengthen operational excellence to deliver superior customer service.

  • Department of Corrections

We will improve lives for safer communities.

THEMES

Build a safer work environment.

Improve the workforce.

Reduce risk and recidivism.

  • Department of Economic Development

We will be the best economic development department in the Midwest.

THEMES

Transform Missouri's DED by improving the way our agency operates.

Develop Missouri's talent so that human capital remains our strongest asset.

Grow Missouri's businesses with a comprehensive economic development strategy.

Empower Missouri's communities with 21st century infrastructure.

Tell Missouri's story so the world knows that we are open for business.

  • Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

We will ensure all Missouri students graduate ready for success.

THEMES

Access, opportunity, equity - Provide students access to a broad range of high-quality educational opportunities from early learning into post-high school engagement.

Teachers and leaders - Prepare, develop, and support educators to ensure an effective teacher in every classroom and an effective leader in every school.

Department efficiency and effectiveness - Create an internal environment of continuous improvement, effective programming and efficient business operations.

  • Department of Health and Senior Services

We will protect health and keep people of Missouri safe.

THEMES

Reduce opioid misuse.

Improve the health of women in Missouri.

Increase access to care.

Create a sustainable, high-performing department.

  • Department of Higher Education

We will improve student outcomes and increase public institutions' performance.

THEMES

Coordination.

Affordability.

Access and success.

Communication.

Meaningful work.

  • Department of Insurance, Financial Institutions and Professional Registration

We will educate and advocate for Missourians as well as regulate fairly and impartially insurance, banks, credit unions and professional licensees.

THEMES

Provide help and educate consumers so they are better informed financial problem solvers.

Strengthen our regulatory relationships while ensuring a level-playing field to protect the general public.

Develop our team, reward great performance and retain top talent.

Innovate to make it easier to connect and work with us.

  • Department of Labor and Industrial Relations

We will promote economic vitality, safety and fairness for Missouri's businesses and workers.

THEMES

Growth - Foster a business environment to support economic development.

Safety - Prevent injuries and save lives on the job.

Opportunity - Invest in our workforce for today and tomorrow.

  • Department of Mental Health

We will be nationally recognized in policy-making, treatment and services for individuals with mental illness, substance use disorders and developmental disabilities.

THEMES

Develop better medical, behavioral and developmental disability service integration and strengthen the community services system.

Advance the Missouri Model for behavioral health.

Enhance safety for employees and the individuals DMH serves.

Expand programs and services for children and families and move DMH to a trauma informed system of care.

Create mental health leadership for the future and strengthen the DMH workforce.

  • Department of Natural Resources

We will help Missouri citizens thrive by managing natural resources to promote a healthy environment and economy.

THEMES

Promote environmental responsibility and resource stewardship.

Enhance services to regulated public.

Improve community and citizen engagement in environmental and natural resource concerns.

Improve organizational performance by functioning as one team.

  • Department of Public Safety

We will make Missouri safer and more secure.

THEMES

Allocate resources strategically.

Improve operational effectiveness.

Support our customers and partners.

Build and lead a united team.

Tell our story.

  • Department of Revenue

We will assist the citizens and businesses of Missouri to meet their obligations.

THEMES

Embed transformational purpose - Take personal ownership of our aspiration and understand how every employee supports delivery.

Focus on service culture - Drive every action by every employee every day by a passion to improve continuously our service to Missouri citizens and businesses.

Partnerships - Create partnerships with other government agencies and private organizations that leverage the capabilities of each partner to assist and support citizens and businesses in Missouri.

Employee recognition and engagement - Find ways every day to ensure that DOR employees who deliver at the highest levels and actively drive day-to-day improvement understand that it is noticed, appreciated and rewarded.

IT roadmap - Develop full business case for medium- and long-term IT Roadmap.

  • Department of Social Services

We will lead the nation in building the capacity of individuals, families and communities to secure and sustain healthy, safe and productive lives.

THEMES

Combat substance use in families.

Redesign child welfare system.

Move families to economic stability.

Transform Medicaid.

Revitalize organizational infrastructure.

  • Department of Transportation

We will provide a world-class transportation system that is safe, innovative, reliable and dedicated to a prosperous Missouri.

THEMES

Safety - Keep citizens and employees safe.

Service - Deliver transportation solutions of great value and use resources wisely.

Stability - Preserve and operate a reliable transportation system with an engaged workforce.