EXECUTIVE ORDER  90-02

Workforce 2000 Initiative

WHEREAS, Washington state government provides a wide variety of services to the people of the state, requiring state employees to have many diverse skills and capabilities; and

WHEREAS, the number and complexity of responsibilities entrusted to state government continues to grow, increasing the importance of attracting, training and retraining a workforce with the necessary skills and commitment to public service to meet these responsibilities; and

WHEREAS, the findings of the Efficiency Commission's Workforce 2000 study demonstrate that state government will be faced with increasing challenges to recruit, develop, promote and retain a high quality workforce in the 1990s:

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Booth Gardner, Governor of the State of Washington, by virtue of the power vested in me, do hereby order the following actions to ensure that state government is prepared to meet these challenges:

Section 1. An advisory group shall work with the Department of Personnel (DOP) to clarify the respective roles and responsibilities of DOP and the executive agencies in the operation of our state's personnel system, including the identification of those activities that could be delivered more effectively at the agency level than at DOP, the priority of services delivered, and the potential for delegated authority by the State Personnel Board to the Director of Personnel of items that are uncontested or are not substantive in nature.

Section 2. All agencies shall develop and implement human resource management plans on a continuing basis and shall use high quality human resource management practices. DOP shall provide guidance and coordination and the Office of Financial Management (OFM) shall clarify these requirements in budget instructions for the 1991-93 biennium.

Section 3. Ail agencies shall strive to create organizational cultures dedicated to service excellence by using the Brainstorm Program, the Teamwork Incentive Program and the Governor's Distinguished Management Leadership Award, and by expanding and intensifying training for all staff and management development programs. Agencies should develop working environments that promote commitment to quality, innovation, recognition, participative management, employee involvement, and efficiency and accountability.

Section 4. In coordination with all state agencies, I have asked DOP to initiate the following programs and changes:

This Executive Order, along with my human resource supplemental budget request and proposed legislation, will significantly improve Washington state government's ability to attract, manage, and retain the high quality workforce our state will need to meet its responsibilities in the 1990s and beyond.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set
my hand and caused the seal of the State of
Washington to be affixed at Olympia this
5th day of January A.D., Nineteen hundred and ninety.

Booth Gardner
Governor of Washington

BY THE GOVERNOR:



Assistant Secretary of State