OPM personnel record database goes live

Four agencies are testing the new data repository and work force analysis tools the Office of Personnel Management launched this week under the Enterprise Human Resources Integration e-government project.OPM is the managing partner for the initiative, one of five the agency is leading.Rhonda Diaz, EHRI project manager, said the departments of Interior, Homeland Security and Treasury, and OPM are analyzing their work force data from the last eight years to spot trends and possible shortfalls. The agencies also are testing the official electronic personnel record, which will replace paper files.“With the data repository, it is more than a proof of concept,” Diaz said. “We aggregated data, and agencies can take a purely statistical look at their work force.”OPM also added a new analysis tool to go with the Workforce Analysis Support System and the Civilian Forecasting System it already modified for the project, Diaz said. Project leaders added business intelligence software from Business Objects Inc. of San Jose, Calif., she said.The Business Objects tool will let agencies run queries on retirement eligibility and employee demographics, Diaz said.“We are rolling out these tools slowly to make sure they have the functionality the agencies need,” Diaz said.OPM plans to add other agencies by February and begin collecting personnel and payroll data in the repository biweekly, Diaz said. Currently, agencies send OPM personnel data each quarter, which makes accurate forecasting and analysis difficult, she said.The official electronic employee record is more of a test than a functional application, Diaz said. The four agencies are evaluating the electronic form to make sure the data is loaded correctly, that it contains all necessary information and that it works properly in the system, she added.“The personnel file and the data repository will help us send personnel data between agencies,” Diaz said. “Right now, we have to send a paper file, and that takes a lot of time. This will streamline the personnel process.”