Strategic Plan FISCAL YEAR 2014 - 2018The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) is engaged in a multiyear effort to transform itself into a dynamic and modern agency. The NARA Transformation -- launched in 2010 -- is a long-term undertaking to foster a new organizational culture that is agile and responsive to change, accepts risk, rewards innovation, and seeks continuous improvement.
The Transformation is grounded in the Open Government principles that an effective government is transparent, collaborative, and participatory.
Transformation requires NARA to develop new ways to engage its customers, to advance new theories of archival science, and to demonstrate leadership in electronic records management. NARA’s Transformation is guided by six “transformational outcomes” that describe how we will carry out our mission in a modern environment.
TRANSFORMATIONAL OUTCOMES:
* One NARA -- We will work as one NARA, not just as component parts.
* Out in Front -- We will embrace the primacy of electronic information in all facets of our work and position NARA to lead accordingly.
* An Agency of Leaders -- We will foster a culture of leadership, not just as a position but as the way we all conduct our work.
* A Great Place to Work -- We will transform NARA into a great place to work through trust and empowerment of all of our people, the agency’s most vital resource.
* A Customer-Focused Organization -- We will create structures and processes to allow our staff to more effectively meet the needs of our customers.
* An Open NARA -- We will open our organizational boundaries to learn from others. U.S. National Archives and Records AdministrationNARA_4ef1c994-cf53-4e47-af79-52d26e19f5a5David S. FerrieroArchivist of the United StatesWe will be known for cutting-edge access to extraordinary volumes of government information and unprecedented engagement to bring greater meaning to the American experience.
Our Vision is to transform the American public’s relationship with their government, with archives as a relevant and vital resource. This vision harnesses the opportunities to collaborate with other Federal agencies, the private sector, and the public to offer information -- including records, data, and context -- when, where, and how it is needed. We will lead the archival and information professions to ensure archives thrive in a digital world. _327a105c-ce74-11e3-93c7-a7770ef76435We drive openness, cultivate public participation, and strengthen our nation’s democracy through public access to high-value government records.
Our Mission is to provide public access to Federal Government records in our custody and control. Public access to government records strengthens democracy by allowing Americans to claim their rights of citizenship, hold their government accountable, and understand their history so they can participate more effectively in their government. _327a105d-ce74-11e3-93c7-a7770ef76435CollaborationCollaborate: Create an open, inclusive work environment that is built on respect, communication, integrity, and collaborative teamwork.
InnovationInnovate: Encourage creativity and invest in innovation to build our future.LearningLearn: Pursue excellence through continuous learning and become smarter all the time about what we know and what we do in service to others.AccessMake Access Happen_327a105e-ce74-11e3-93c7-a7770ef764351Make Access Happen establishes “public access” as NARA’s core purpose. It affirms that public access is the ultimate outcome of all of our work. Make Access Happen also signals a significant shift in strategy and purpose: We will reach beyond the traditional role of making records available for others to discover and will make access happen by providing flexible tools and accessible resources that promote public participation.Digital AccessMake all records available to the public in digital form to ensure that anyone can explore, discover, and learn from NARA holdings._327a105f-ce74-11e3-93c7-a7770ef764351.1Initiative 1.1.1 Description of HoldingsEase of UseDescribe all holdings online to make them easy to use and provide archival context.2014-03-312018-09-30TBD2014-03-312018-09-30Initiative 1.1.2Records DigitizationOnline AccessDigitize all analog archival records to make them available online.2014-03-312018-09-30TBD2014-03-312018-09-30Initiative 1.1.3Records ProcessingAccelerationAccelerate processing of analog and digital records to quickly make our records available to the public. 2014-03-312018-09-30TBD2014-03-312018-09-30This solution is consistent with the Digital Processing Environment outlined in the FY 2014 President’s Budget submission.ConnectionConnect with Customers_327a1060-ce74-11e3-93c7-a7770ef764352Connect with Customers challenges us to continuously improve customer service, cultivate public participation, and generate new understanding of the importance of records in a democracy. We will continuously engage with and learn from our customers -- individuals, organizations, and other Federal agencies. We will build long-term, positive, effective relationships and provide a consistent customer experience across programs, platforms, and locations. We will be an exemplary culture of Open Government.Engagement & ParticipationImprove internal and external customer engagement to cultivate and sustain public participation._327a1061-ce74-11e3-93c7-a7770ef764352.1Initiative 2.1.1 Customer Service ActivitiesIntegrationIntegrate customer service activities to more proactively respond to and effectively understand our customer needs. 2014-03-312018-09-30TBD2014-03-312018-09-30Initiative 2.1.2Participation & Crowdsourcing ToolsUsage ExpansionExpand our use of public participation and crowdsourcing tools to improve public access and engagement.2014-03-312018-09-30TBD2014-03-312018-09-30Initiative 2.1.3 Outreach ProgramCreationCreate a unified national outreach program (exhibitions, educational activities, and public programming) that engages diverse audiences in learning about government records and inspires them to more actively participate in America’s democratic process.2014-03-312018-09-30TBD2014-03-312018-09-30Initiative 2.1.4 Regulatory EnvironmentTransparency & ParticipationDevelop a virtual regulatory environment to increase transparency and expand public participation in the Federal rule-making process.2014-03-312018-09-30TBD2014-03-312018-09-30ValueMaximize NARA’s Value to the Nation_327a1062-ce74-11e3-93c7-a7770ef764353Maximize NARA’s Value to the Nation recognizes public access to government information creates measurable economic value, which adds to the enduring cultural and historical value of our records. We will continue to be an effective steward of the government resources that we hold in trust and will constantly strive to be a responsive 21st-century government agency. We will strive to implement new business practices to achieve greater efficiency and effectiveness in all we do and ensure institutional sustainability.Policies & PracticesReform and modernize records management policies and practices within the Federal Government to effectively support the transition to a digital government._327a1063-ce74-11e3-93c7-a7770ef764353.1Initiative 3.1.1E-Records RequirementsEstablishmentEstablish requirements for Federal agencies to manage all permanent electronic records in an electronic format to support the transition to a digital government.2014-03-312018-09-30TBD2014-03-312018-09-30Initiative 3.1.2 Automated TechnologiesInvestigationStimulate investigation of applied research in automated technologies to reduce the burden of records management responsibilities.2014-03-312018-09-30TBD2014-03-31Records UsageDrive public and commercial use and re-use of government records to create measurable economic activity. _327a1064-ce74-11e3-93c7-a7770ef764353.2Initiative 3.2.1Machine-Readable DataDirect AccessProvide direct access to record data in machine-readable forms to allow efficient use of the information in our holdings.2014-03-312018-09-30TBD2014-03-312018-09-30Our PeopleBuild Our Future through Our People_327a1065-ce74-11e3-93c7-a7770ef764354Build Our Future Through Our People is our commitment to provide all employees with the training and opportunities necessary to successfully transition to a digital environment. We have an opportunity to “become more” -- to find ways to be more supportive of our staff, better at our jobs, savvier in our decisions, and bolder in our commitment to leading the archival and information professions to ensure continued relevance and flourishing of archives in a digital society. We will build a modern and engaged workforce, develop the next generation of leaders, and encourage employees to collaborate, innovate, and learn. We will provide a workplace that fosters trust, accepts risk, and rewards collaboration.CultureCreate and sustain a culture of empowerment, openness, and inclusion._327a1066-ce74-11e3-93c7-a7770ef764354.1Initiative 4.1.1 Employee DevelopmentCultureFoster an employee development culture to promote learning and leadership by all.2014-03-312014-09-30TBD2014-03-312018-09-30Initiative 4.1.2 Communications EnvironmentCreationCultivate a robust, well-connected internal communications environment to support informed action at all levels.2014-03-312018-09-30TBD2014-03-312018-09-30WorkforceEnsure we have a diverse workforce with the skills necessary to fulfill our mission. _327a1067-ce74-11e3-93c7-a7770ef764354.2NARA EmployeesInitiative 4.2.1Recruitment & Retention PracticesImplementationImplement innovative practices and tools to recruit, sustain, and retain a 21st-century workforce.2014-03-312018-09-30TBD2013-03-312018-09-30Initiative 4.2.2Career PathsCreationCreate new career paths for NARA employees to ensure that we have the necessary competencies and skills in a digital environment.2014-03-312018-09-30TBD2014-03-312018-09-302014-03-312018-09-302014-04-27OwenAmburOwen.Ambur@verizon.net