PA Treasury Program Designated a 'Bright Idea' by Harvard

Treasurer McCord's innovative consulting unit developed over $17 million worth of savings and benefits to Pennsylvanians

HARRISBURG, Pa., Sept. 29 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Pennsylvania Treasury's innovative Change Management and Internal Audits program has won a "Bright Idea" distinction from Harvard University's Kennedy School.  

Announcing this recognition by the Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation at the John F. Kennedy School of Government, Pennsylvania Treasurer Rob McCord noted that Treasury's internal consulting unit developed over $17 million in savings and benefits to Pennsylvanians last fiscal year alone.

"We are honored that Harvard has recognized our Change Management team.  I am proud of this project – and proud of how we brought much-needed private-sector insights to a complex government operation," the Treasurer said.  "We used talented existing staff and avoided spending any money, and it worked!" Treasurer McCord said.  

"We are all looking for ways to do more with less. Unleashing the untapped expertise of our employees is one of the best ways to increase efficiency," the Treasurer continued.  

Early in his administration, Treasurer McCord and his staff noticed that Treasury was in need of efficiency-enhancing change.  Rather than hire external consultants, Treasurer McCord decided to use the expertise of staff in Treasury's Bureau of Internal Audits to create an internal consulting team and identify ways to reduce costs and help Treasury employees work smarter.

Since its creation, Change Management has helped retool work flows and internal processes, vastly improved the ways information is shared between state agencies, and identified $15 million worth of scheduled payments to Commonwealth vendors who owed the Commonwealth taxes.  

Treasurer McCord encouraged other government agencies to adopt this internal consulting model.  "It's simple, it's cheap, and it effectively uses valuable internal resources and empowers those closest to the problems and most able to implement much-needed change," Treasurer McCord said.  

Bright Ideas is an initiative of the Ash Center's "Innovations in Government" Program, which spotlights exemplary models of government innovation and advances efforts to address the nation's most pressing public concerns.   This year's "Bright Idea" government programs were chosen by a team of expert evaluators made up of academics, practitioners, and former public servants, and the innovations will serve as a cornerstone of a new online community in which innovative ideas are proposed, shared, and disseminated.   Those programs designated as "Bright Ideas" are seen as possible future winners of the prestigious Innovations in American Government awards.  

The Roy and Lila Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation advances excellence and innovation in governance and public policy through research, education, and public discussion. Three major programs support our mission: the Program on Democratic Governance; the Innovations in Government Program; and the Rajawali Foundation Institute for Asia. For more information, visit www.ash.harvard.edu.

Pennsylvania Treasurer Rob McCord is committed to increasing the economic security and prosperity of all Pennsylvanians.  Before winning the statewide-elected job of State Treasurer, McCord was a successful business leader.  He is now focused on strengthening the state's economy, managing investments to get strong returns for taxpayers, and helping to create good jobs and retirement security for Pennsylvanians.  To learn more about Treasurer McCord's initiatives, please visit the Pennsylvania Treasury at www.patreasury.org.

SOURCE Pennsylvania Treasury Department