The federal agency hot -- or not -- list

In this week's issue of Federal Computer Week, we feature our annual survey of the best -- and worst -- agencies to work for. (Read the story here... and find more information about the entire survey, how we conducted it, and, as they say, much, much more at www.fcw.com/specials/workforce07... and previous surveys at fcw.com/bestagencies/.

As with the survey each year, the actual best -- and worst -- list is really just a way to pique your interest. That list will change to some degree, depending on the people who actually respond to the survey.

One of the things that is very interesting -- and particularly valuable for managers -- is some of the data behind the findings. Yes, we ask the overarching question: How satisfied are you with your agency? But we also ask why...and what you like...and don't like.

To that end, 1105 Government Information Group's Web editor in chief John Monroe worked with FCW contributing editor Brian Robinson to pulled together a number of briefings on some subjects.


Among the briefings:

* Keys to a happier workforce

Never mind which agencies are the best or worst for federal IT workers. The real question is why. FCW's recent survey of feds reveals the main factors in determining job satisfaction -- or dissatisfaction. Maxine Lunn, research director at the 1105 Government Information Group, explains the findings in this 15-minute PowerPoint presentation.

* Trust
One of the big findings: People want to be trusted to do their jobs. We asked Dick Morton, executive director of the American Management Association's Federal Learning Institute, how an organization can build a culture of trust.

* Feds: The next generation
Managing younger people is...well, very different...and potentially difficult. The survey found that younger feds were actually quite satisfied. We asked Bruce Tulgan, founder of RainmakerThinking and an internationally respected authority on young people in the workplace, about what federal managers need to do to get the most out of their younger workers.

* Mentoring: A real opportunity
There were several people who said that mentoring was a real opportunity. We asked Lynn Lancaster, co-founder of BridgeWorks, a company formed specifically to help span what sometimes seems like a wide and growing chasm between the generations, about why government agency mentoring programs are of such importance to Generation X, Y and the newest corps of "millennial" workers, and what's needed to create successful programs that have legs.

As I say, the best -- and worst -- lists are just a start. The real meat is the rest of the data. We have all that posted for you as well.

And we'd love your take on questions we should ask next year.