Unlocking Excellence in Gov 2.0: TSA’s Idea Factory

Posted by: Amy Hooker, Director of Online Marketing Apr 15, 2009 0 Comments

No matter what personal complaints I may have about having to take off my shoes or pour my shampoo into an “approved” three-ounce bottle, I’m still willing to give credit where credit is due. And in this case, the kudos go to the Transportation Safety Administration (TSA) for using social media in a decidedly smart way.

According to this article at Government Executive magazine, TSA has launched a forum on its intranet called the Idea Factory. More than 43,000 staffers and administrators have access to the forum to read and post ideas for improving processes, better helping passengers, and helping the organization save money.

As far as I’m concerned, the Idea Factory is a fantastic idea because TSA has made some smart decisions about how it’s run:

They invite everyone to participate: From the guy who looks through my checked luggage at the airport to the guy who sits behind his wood veneer desk all day, every member of the TSA team is welcome to access and engage with the Idea Factory. Some insights and tips can only be learned from people working on the front lines, and giving these folks a voice is imperative to an organization’s success.

They allow open communications: Though the forum has official moderators, for the most part, employees can talk amongst themselves in a clear manner, even including sensitive security information if they note it as such. This ability to have a no-holds-barred conversation with peers and colleagues without fear of accidentally divulging secret information leads to an environment that supports a free exchange of ideas.

They empower their workforce: With more than 7,000 ideas submitted so far, reading through the entire list isn’t a realistic option. By ranking the ideas based on their popularity and occasionally holding contests to generate ideas for solving a specific problem, the Idea Factory gives everyone—including the guy who waves you through the metal detector at the airport—the chance to excel and be recognized for their contributions to the larger organization.

It’s also worth mentioning that TSA has one of the most visible blogs of any government agency out there. Other departments within the federal government would be wise to follow TSA’s lead of openness and inclusion within their agencies and amongst their constituents.

Enjoy this post?

Subscribe to the feed

Amy Hooker

Director of Online Marketing

• Most Recent
• Topics

View all previous posts