Overview
Title
Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection; Comment Request; Improving Customer Experience (OMB Circular A-11, Section 280 Implementation)
Agencies
ELI5 AI
The Department of the Treasury wants to know how they can make their services as good as those in the private sector, so they're asking people to tell them what they think, kind of like answering some easy questions. They're making sure it's safe and no one has to do it if they don't want to.
Summary AI
The Department of the Treasury is asking for public feedback on a proposed information collection aimed at enhancing customer experience, as per the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. This collection will help raise government service standards to match those of private sectors by gathering feedback through various means such as surveys and interviews. They aim to collect voluntary opinions without sensitive questions and ensure anonymity for respondents. Comments on whether such collections are necessary or how they can be improved are welcomed until April 23, 2021.
Abstract
The Department of the Treasury, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public and other federal agencies to comment on the proposed information collection listed below, in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.
Keywords AI
Sources
AnalysisAI
The document, issued by the U.S. Department of the Treasury, is a formal request for public feedback on a planned effort to collect information to improve customer experience with federal services. Through this collection, the Department aims to align government service standards with those seen in the private sector. The proposal is framed under the guidelines of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, which necessitates the collection of feedback through methods like surveys and interviews while ensuring the responses are voluntary and anonymous.
General Summary
In essence, the document outlines a new initiative to gather public opinions to enhance the quality and effectiveness of federal programs and services. It emphasizes improving customer interactions to match private industry standards. The Department stresses that feedback will not touch upon sensitive personal subjects and aims for responses to be entirely voluntary.
Significant Issues and Concerns
Several issues arise from the document, primarily related to its language and the potential implications of the proposed data collection approach:
Complex Language: The document is laden with bureaucratic terminology such as "OMB Circular A-11, Section 280 Implementation," which may not be readily understandable to the general public. Simplifying this language could broaden public engagement and comprehension.
Burden Hours: With an estimated total of 190,750 annual burden hours, there could be apprehensions about the extensive time commitment and whether this is truly necessary for achieving the document’s stated objectives.
Data Collection Ambiguity: There remains a lack of clarity about exactly how the data will be collected and what types of questions will be posed. This could generate uncertainty over privacy protections and could lead to hesitance in participation.
Response Time Details: The document does not sufficiently break down how much time each data collection method will require from participants. Explaining this could help address concerns about the impact on those providing feedback.
Link to Improvement: There is also little detail on how the gathered information will concretely lead to service improvements, potentially leaving stakeholders questioning the practical outcomes of participating.
Impact on the Public
For the broader public, this document could represent a step towards more responsive and tailored government services. By capturing the experiences and insights of customers, services could potentially become more efficient and user-centric. However, the time and effort required for participation could deter individuals who are either wary of time constraints or skeptical about the tangible changes resulting from their contributions.
Impact on Specific Stakeholders
The primary stakeholders here include individuals and organizations who interact with federal services. These could range from individual citizens to businesses and even other government bodies. For these groups, participating in this feedback initiative could offer a chance to voice concerns and suggest improvements, potentially leading to a more favorable interaction with government services.
On the other hand, the substantial annual burden hours and ambiguity in the data collection process might intimidate or discourage participation, particularly among small businesses or individuals with limited resources.
Overall, while the intentions of the Treasury Department appear beneficial in theory, the success of this initiative largely hinges on how effectively they can address these concerns, engage the public in a meaningful dialogue, and translate the collected data into actionable improvements.
Issues
• The document uses bureaucratic language and references that may not be easily understood by the general public, such as 'OMB Circular A-11, Section 280 Implementation', which could be clarified or simplified.
• The estimated total annual burden hours of 190,750 seems significant and could raise concerns about the efficiency and necessity of the data collection process.
• The document does not specify the exact methods for collecting data or the types of questions that will be asked, leaving some ambiguity about how privacy and voluntary participation will be ensured.
• There is no detailed breakdown of the estimated time per response across different data collection methods, which could help clarify the potential impact on respondents.
• The document does not provide details on how the findings will directly lead to improvements in customer experience, which could help justify the data collection.