Employee Barrier Analysis Unravels Insights
609,318
Employees
Unique
Federal Strategic DEIA Framework
7
Years of Demographic Data
Striving to Diminish Inequalities
In the pursuit of addressing performance and awards disparities, the Social Security Administration (SSA) turned to PowerTrain to craft and execute an investigative plan aimed at unraveling insights and potential DEIA issues within the agency’s workforce dynamics.
This deep dive included analyzing over seven years of demographic data, coupled with the invaluable input gathered from 10 distinct focus groups. The results unearthed nuanced insights through the subsequent barrier analysis and comprehensive reports of awards and appraisal systems with multiple data facets.
Removing Unjust Obstacles
SSA collaborated with PowerTrain to identify potential barriers and to strategize solutions.
Our shared goal was to identify and eliminate any impediments that might negatively impact specific groups, offering strategic recommendations for structural and organizational enhancements.
SSA needed a transformative solution that went beyond identification to offer actionable strategies. Our comprehensive approach positions the SSA for success by addressing key areas within the organizational framework that fosters fair application of the agency’s systems.
Conducting Thorough Analytical Examination
PowerTrain and our partner Small World Group executed a meticulous analysis process to unveil insights and provide recommendations on a comprehensive approach encompassing national and regional characteristics to ensure a holistic understanding.
Employing rigorous statistical validation, PowerTrain scrutinized variables of interest, conducting:
- Evaluations of distributions
- Outlier identification
- Assessments for multicollinearity
- Mapping to our Federal Strategic DEIA Framework.
This meticulous process paved the way for advanced analytics, including:
- Multivariate linear models.
- Logistic regression models.
- Insightful plots.
These analyses validated findings and underlying assumptions.
Quality Information Leads to A Fairer Workplace
As a culmination of PowerTrain’s effort, SSA received a comprehensive sensitivity analysis, delving into intragroup variation and its profound impact on performance awards.
Thanks to our meticulous investigation and collaborative transformative insights, SSA is now equipped to recalibrate its performance and appraisal systems, ensuring optimal functionality and eliminating bias for all employees.
Our collaborative efforts with SSA have not only uncovered key areas for improvement but also provided actionable recommendations that pave the way for a fairer and more efficient workplace.
While the system itself may exhibit minimal flaws, its effectiveness hinges on the precise execution of its principles.
Unlocking a Holistic Perspective: Elevating Metrics with Qualitative Findings
In our continuous pursuit of excellence with the SSA, PowerTrain seamlessly integrated qualitative data into our investigation, shedding light on critical aspects that quantitative metrics alone may overlook.
The strategic approach not only underscores the significance of certain quantitative findings but also addresses key areas where the nuance of qualitative insights plays a pivotal role.
One prominent finding addresses the adherence of raters to the principles of the performance and appraisal system. While the system itself may exhibit minimal flaws, its effectiveness hinges on the precise execution of its principles. Our efforts offered solutions to this weakness in the system’s implementation.
To further explore our insightful findings, PowerTrain and Small World Group presented our report to SSA Commissioner O’Malley in February 2024.
Analytical Understanding and Breaking Down Barriers
Through a comprehensive understanding of both quantitative and qualitative dimensions, SSA gained tailored strategies that not only address identified weaknesses but also elevate the overall implementation process.
PowerTrain and Small World Group’s tailored solutions go beyond mere problem-solving; they sculpted an implementation process that aligns seamlessly with SSA’s vision for success.
