FHWA – Knowledge Management
Discipline Support System (DSS)
Anne Audet
Acting Director, Office of Human Resources
Federal Highway Administration
Discipline Support System (DSS)
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An integrated knowledge management system
created to:
 Strengthen technical skills across the
agency/transfer knowledge
 Share best practices
 Network within the discipline/occupation
 Develop new staff
 Not organizationally aligned
Discipline Support System
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Discipline – technical specialty/occupation/profession
19 defined disciplines; 2 pending (IT/HR)
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Administrative
Air Quality
Civil Rights
Communications and Marketing
Construction/Proj Mgmt
Design
Environment
Finance
Freight
Generalist
Geotechnical
Hydraulics
Operations
Pavements and Materials
Program Mgmt & Anal
Planning
Realty
Safety
Structures
Elements of a Discipline
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Sponsor/Champion(s)
Workforce Management
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Networking/Communication
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Sharepoint
Learning and Development
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Competencies
Membership
Recruitment
Monthly webinars
Discipline Seminars every 3 years
Role and Job Expectations
Policies/Guidance
Strategic Planning
DSS – Challenges
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Consistency across disciplines
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Involvement of the organizations – particularly at the
division level
One employee with multiple disciplines
Fiscal constraints – seminars/L&D
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Discipline Council
Frequency of actual gatherings
Emphasis on virtual/technology
Discipline membership 
CROPS (centralized register and organizational profile system)
Outcomes
Greater communication among discipline
members
 Greater involvement at all levels
 Access to technical expertise
 New hire development
 All Employee Survey
 Increased knowledge of the DSS
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 QUESTIONS?
ANNE AUDET
 202-366-8984
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