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Elevating, Integrating, and Institutionalizing Strategic Human Capital Management in Federal Agencies through the Chief Human Capital Officer

Washburn University

Jill M. Crumpacker

Federal Labor Relations Authority

The Chief Human Capital Officer (CHCO) Act, enacted as part of the Homeland Security Act of 2002, modifies existing human capital rules and establishes the position of CHCO in cabinet-level agencies. Although a CHCO raises the awareness of federal human capital issues, the CHCO’s actual range of authority, impact, and long-termrole remain untested. This article compares key provisions of the CHCO Act to provisions creating similar agency strategic management positions and questions whether the CHCO achieves the same status. Issues discussed includewhether elevating the role of strategic human capitalmanagement is best achieved through a politically appointed CHCO or a career senior executive; integration issues influencing the CHCO’s ability to effect workforce change within an agency; and institutionalization issues, in light of a concurrently established CHCO council and the Office of Personnel Management’s centralized role in defining, issuing, and administering government-wide workforce regulations.

Key Words: human capital • chief human capital officer • human resources • strategic management

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Review of Public Personnel Administration, Vol. 24, No. 3, 234-255 (2004)
DOI: 10.1177/0734371X04266419


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This Article Abstract Free Full Text (Free PDF) Free Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Crumpacker, M. Articles by Crumpacker, J. M. Search for Related Content Social Bookmarking                         What's this?