Chapter 1. Introduction

1-1. Program purpose. In HUD\'s ongoing efforts to

improve productivity, employees\' suggestions are one

valuable source of initiatives. Employees should be

encouraged and rewarded for suggesting ways to improve

the efficiency and effectiveness of Government operations

and service to the public. That is the basic philosophy of

the IDEAS Program. It provides employees a meaningful

opportunity to participate in increasing and improving

productivity at HUD.

1-1. Authority. There are two kinds of incentive awards

authorized under Title 5 USC Chapter 45, Incentive

Awards\-- performance awards and suggestion awards.

Performance awards are given for job-related acts or

services, and suggestion awards are given for employees\'

ideas which yield improvements to operations and

services. Awards for employee suggestions are further

discussed in 5 CFR, Chapter 1, Part 451, Special Awards,

and in the Federal Personnel Manual Chapter 451,

Incentive Awards.

HUD\'s incentive awards program for employee suggestions

is called the IDEAS (Improving Departmental Efficiency

and Services) Program. It is open to all Government

employees. The purpose of this handbook is to

document the basic policies and procedures which are

used to manage HUD\'s IDEAS Program. Additional

guidance is available in the Federal Personnel Manual,

Chapter 451.

Authority for managing the program, including authority

to make exceptions to all the policies and procedures

contained in this handbook, rests with the Assistant

Secretary for Administration. Exceptions will be made

in accordance with applicable collective bargaining

agreements. The program is operated by the Office of

Productivity and Management Improvements, under the

Assistant Secretary for Administration.

1-3. Guiding principles

a\. Managers should view HUD\'s IDEAS Program as an

investment in HUD\'s future - a way to help make their

operations more effective and efficient.

b\. IDEAS Program Officers and staff, both in

Headquarters and in the Field, should:

\(1\) Work with suggesters to make sure their

submissions are complete,

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\(2\) Advocate adoption of suggestions with potentially

high payoff, and

\(3\) Ensure that suggesters are rewarded meaningfully.

c\. Managers throughout the Department should encourage

program participation by:

\(1\) Letting their employees know that suggestions are

valued and welcomed;

\(2\) Recognizing employees\' contributions publicly;

and

\(3\) Granting on-the-job time for employees to develop

their suggestions and work with evaluators.

d\. Employees are entitled to fair, objective, and timely

evaluations of their suggestions.

e\. Adopted suggestions should be implemented as

quickly as possible so the Department can start reaping

the benefits.

f\. The IDEAS Program is not an entitlement program; it

is a discretionary program. As such, it is up to

management to make the final determination on:

\(1\) Whether or not a suggestion will be adopted; and

\(2\) How a suggester will be rewarded.

1-4. Definition of an Idea. An Idea is a written

suggestion submitted by a Government employee that

recommends a specific change in, or addition to, policies

and/or procedures for Government operations and services

which will result in improved efficiency, improved

quality, or reduced costs.

All suggestions fitting this definition are eligible for

consideration through the IDEAS Program, whether or not

they are job related, because the objective of the

program is to identify and implement improvements. Job

relatedness is pertinent only to the type of award the

suggester can receive for an adopted Idea. Adopted Ideas

which are job related will not be eligible for monetary

award, unless savings or benefits are substantial (see

Federal Personnel Manual Chapter 451, Appendix D for

guidance on determining \"substantial benefits\").

Suggestions will be considered job related if:

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o They result from a specific assignment or specific

management directive given to the suggester; or

o The suggester can implement the Idea without the

approval of anyone else (e.g., a manager suggests a

change which he/she could implement him/herself).

The following kinds of suggestions are not eligible for

consideration through the IDEAS Program:

Suggestions that present concepts for automation

without offering specific solutions or methodology

(see Chapter 4 for additional guidance); and

o Suggestions dealing with increasing or changing

employee benefits and entitlements such as hours of

work, overtime, compensatory time, annual and sick

leave, insurance, health benefits, and travel (per

Federal Personnel Manual Chapter 451, Part 8-2b).

However, suggestions recommending changes in

procedures for processing the paperwork associated

with these topics are acceptable.

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