Central approving groups notice their work and role are diminishing because decision making is being driven down to the employee. This is meeting cultural resistance. We can get the small purchase authority to the program but we have to have the systems and controls in place. Under delegation of authority, the oversight role of procurement, finance and auditing becomes more significant. We will have to invent how to do good oversight that isn't intrusive.
Good oversight means assuring that good practice and procedures are being followed.
It will involve some kind of reviews, probably on-line. As we empower the work force, the procurement people are no longer needed for low-end transactions, and the program people have their own destiny in their own hands. Finance and Procurement are partners in administrative reform. Our collaboration with Procurement is a model for how we want to work with other groups. We plan to have the same role with travel and personal property functions.