New Jersey Discharger - V3N3

	Vol. 3 No. 3 Winter 1995
A Newsletter About New Jersey's Water Quality Programs

'Partners in Change' working for a better DEP

The DEP is presently involved in an 18 month effort to improve operations using the expertise of a management consulting firm and a departmental advisory group. The 17 - member advisory group, known as Partners in Change (PIC), will oversee, direct, and provide feedback to A.T. Kearny, the consulting firm under contract with the DEP, and its information management subcontractor, American Management Systems, Inc. The project is focusing on improving the department's essential operational processes and on the development of an effective and comprehensive management information system.

"Our overall goal is to help the DEP do what's important for the environment and do it efficiently and effectively," says Allen Merriman, project coordinator for A.T. Kearny. "We're here to help develop and implement changes, rather than come in and say, 'do these changes,' and have changes done to you."

Merriman says that A.T. Kearny and American Management Systems bring to the process extensive environmental backgrounds and the expertise of having worked with other governmental agencies, as well as the ability to focus single-mindedly on this effort. This will be matched by the departmental knowledge and expertise available from DEP staff. The PIC Committee in particular, he says, will play a crucial role in involving staff and ensuring the project's success.

The PIC Committee and the consultants expect to finalize recommendations and a plan for implementation by the end of 1995.

Articles appearing in the New Jersey Discharger may be reprinted provided source credit is given.
Tom Cosmas converted the original text into this HTML and is willing to accept most of the blame for any typo errors.
Last revision 4/15/96