•  maintain a continuous performance monitoring systemto carry out its responsibilites for making timely and accurate disability determinations.

•  use all management information data, QA review results, and findingsfrom internal organization and workflow analysis.

•  work closely with its parent agencyand the SSA regional staffto ensure timely and appropriate actions are taken to maintain satisfactory performance and meet disability program goals and objectives.

1. a. 

   Each DDS should develop and implementa comprehensive performancemanagementprogram.

2. b. 

   The program design should:

   • •

     enable the DDS to achieveand sustaina level of performance consistent with SSA disability program objectives and operating goals; and

   • •

     exhibit flexibilityto accommodate changes resulting from legislations, court actions, significant workload fluctuations, and operational demands.

DDS management may wish to develop special purpose reportsto monitor specific areas.

Effective management information techniques should be shared among other DDS staff through the Management Forum Clearinghouseand at regional or national meetings and conferences.

Communicationscan be achieved in many ways.

EXAMPLES:

• •

  Regional meetings involving DDS administrators.

• •

  Regionally-sponsored training onsite in DDS.

• •

  Special purpose visits to other DDSs.

• •

  Using personnel from a high performing DDS to participate in reviews of specialized areas.

• •

  DDS Management Forum participation, etc.

ROs will work with the DDS to determine the most effective way to handle meetings, training, and visits that are inter-State or inter-Regional.