3 ms·
Here is some inside info. I work for the Census. It is a highly dysfunctional organization. Nothing to do with current administration. The various software the
by censusthrowaway 6y ago
Here is some inside info. I work for the Census.
It is a highly dysfunctional organization. Nothing to do with current administration.
The various software the local offices use actively hinders the job of management and enumerators (the people who come to your door). Hundreds of and hundred of millions of dollars and incalculable time is wasted just due to this. Imagine the worst ERP or CRM that you have ever used, this is worse and approximately 250 offices use it across the country, and this inhibits the jobs of nearly half a million people.
Talk to any Area manager, Lead Census Field Manager/Field manager, Office Operation Supervisor, or Office Clerk. They will tell you how they have to fight the software to get their job done.
Truth is the Census could be done with half the people. There is plain incompetence in middle and higher management. Those making decision on software and marketing seem to have no understanding of the job those in local offices do. It is so bad local offices don't really have an accurate idea who even is still employed in the field working cases.
Why doesn't this change? Nobody wants to lose their job. Middle management wants numbers and to hit goals. It doesn't matter if the numbers are actually accurate. Often they will not be. Notes about cases (organizations we are trying to count their people/or individual housing units) pile up inside systems that nobody has time to read. It is easier to close a case then actually resolve it and accurately count people.
Not only is there no incentive to do the job correctly, it will actually get you in trouble if you do things right.
Yes this is a random throwaway account on HN. But to verify just ask nearly anyone who works for the Census. I hope to post more on this later when I have time. Feel free to ask any questions.
- NelsonMinar 6y agoA big part of why Census doesn't operate better is the Republicans chronically underfund it. This entire census cycle was the Trump Administration's responsibility. If Census lacks the tools and capabilities to execute it, it's on them.
- censusthrowaway 6y agoI am not a republican, but this isn't true. There is so much waste and inefficiency. The Census wastes billions of dollars right now. Again ask almost any Census employee about how much time an money is wasted. Not everything is Trump's fault, he isn't that capable.
- tsjq 6y ago>Not everything is Trump's fault, he isn't that capable. LOL. That's a new level !
- mensetmanusman 6y agoIn the future daily low-cost high-resolution images of the country could give a real-time accurate headcount. Is that being discussed? Would be a good way to get away from the 10 year lag data and have real time information to make policy choices.
- censusthrowaway 6y agoUpper management wouldn't know what that means. Can't even make a good app.
- mensetmanusman 6y agoYou should mention it somehow, would be good to plant the seed that the organization may be able to solve the counting issue in the next decade, then they can move on to other labels to focus on.