FORT LEE, Va. –
The Defense Contract Management Agency launched its Onboarding Application June 27, the second product from the Boarding Modernization Integrated Process Team.
The app upgrades the onboarding process for civilian, military and contractor personnel across the agency, enhancing functionality and automating features to streamline new personnel integration.
“Onboarding is a new employee's first impression of the agency, and we want to make it great for everyone,” said Karen Schultheis, the agency’s Information Technology executive director, chief information officer and Organizational Infrastructure Board manager. “Think back to when you onboarded to DCMA. Was it smooth? Was it fast? Did you get everything you needed when you needed it? I'm sure some of you are saying ‘yes, it was great,’ while others are rolling your eyes and thinking, ‘no, that was not my experience.’”
Schultheis announced the application’s release in a video highlighting the OI Board’s most recent business modernization success.
“Our goal is to have all future personnel who onboard to DCMA say it was a great experience and DCMA is an amazing place to work,” she said. “The old manual checklist process often presented a resource burden on team members and supervisors that required frequent follow-ups and delayed completion. The new onboarding process drives completion of mandatory tasks through automated reminders, saving time and resources and ensuring efficient execution.”
The OI Board manager thanked the Boarding Modernization IPT, information technology developers and Total Force subject matter experts for delivering a quality product, executing timely development and invigorating a key organizational process.
“We used their feedback throughout the development process and worked with subject matter experts from across the agency's global network of professionals to streamline the effort and deliver an efficient and effective application,” said Schultheis.”
“Our combined team of professionals exceeded all expectations, and their hard work is a testament to this achievement,” said Cymele Saunders-King, a Total Force Policy Branch human resources specialist and the OI Board’s integrated process team lead for the onboarding project. “The team maintained focus throughout the process. They overcame all challenges and relied on each other’s shared expertise, support and professionalism. I am proud of their effort and the resulting product.”
Saunders-King identified the following key contributors: Michelle Penn, Risa Compton, Jay Glenn, Pamela Millar, Thomas Diggs, Travis Sykes, Linda Shaver, Scott White, Richard Squicciarini, Brenda Goodrich, Kimberly Ryan, Kristian Bolden, James Popielic and Stephanie Rocha.
Rocha, DCMA’s Business Capability Framework program manager and an IPT lead for the effort, discussed the Boarding Modernization team’s first collective effort in a January 2024 article: “New tool modernizes agency’s offboarding process.”
She said the development of both apps supports Objective 4.3 of DCMA’s strategic plan.
“This line of effort calls for the agency to ‘modernize our processes and related tools and training to empower our workforce to be equally effective and efficient in both the onsite and virtual environment,’” said Rocha. “I think we hit that square on the nose with the (Out-Processing and Transfers) app and the boarding modernization project as a whole.”
The final step in the initial phase of boarding modernization will combine the onboarding and offboarding applications into one enterprise solution.
“But the buck won’t stop there; we’ll keep updating and modernizing the enterprise boarding app to make it more practical and reduce redundant or excess manual boarding tasks,” she said.
As the IPT shifts its focus to integration, Schultheis emphasized the OI Board’s global effort.
“Our continued goal is to work hard to develop tools that improve your workplace experience so we can all focus on our ultimate goal: delivering superior war fighter support and excellent taxpayer value,” she said.
The Boarding Modernization IPT maintains an onboarding 365 page with designated training, resources and benefits specific to civilians, military personnel, contactors and supervisors.
Team members interested in learning more about the OI Board’s projects can visit the Business Capability Framework-Organizational Infrastructure homepage.
Employees can also email questions to the board here.
To help shape DCMA’s future, all seven of the agency’s capability boards are seeking additional members. Those interested should visit the Business Capability Framework volunteer page here.
Editor’s Note: Links within the article require access to DCMA’s DOD365-J site. Common Access Card login is required.