EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION RESEARCH AND DATA PLAN

For 2016-2019

Table of Contents

1. Executive Summary
2. Authorizations for FY2016 (and for FY2017, as needed)
   1. Inventory of EEOC Data
   2. Survey Collection System Modifications
      1. Referrals from Employment Agencies;
      2. Pay Data Pilot.
   3. Tracking and Reporting Data
      1. Standardization of Processes for External Data Reporting and Proposal for Annual Reporting Extract of IMS Charge Database;
      2. Creation of an Employer Database for Integration with IMS;
      3. Enhancement of Pay and Occupational Data in Charge Data.
   4. Using Data for EEOC Purposes
      1. Research Project on Harassment;
      2. Support of EEO Academic Data Center;
3. Other Long-Term Projects
   1. Study Effectiveness of Practices Adopted to Remedy Discrimination as Injunctive Relief;
   2. Use IMS Data to Identify Industries with a High Prevalence of Violations and Problematic Practices;
   3. Research on Selection Devices and Other Employment Practices that Serve as Barriers to Opportunity as well as Promising Practices that Rely on Job-related Criteria;
   4. Research on Effective Communication of Employee Rights and Responsibilities;
   5. Research on a Proposal to Collect Data on Disabilities in EEO Surveys;
   6. Research Measures to Evaluate EEOC's Impact in Reducing and Correcting Discrimination.
4. Conclusion

I. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The Strategic Enforcement Plan for 2012-2016, approved by the Commission in December 2012, requires the Commission to develop and approve a multi-year Research and Data Plan ("R&D Plan" or "Plan").  The Commission establishes this Plan for the years 2016-2019. 

Implementation of each of the initiatives and projects identified in this Plan is subject to available resources, and a cost-benefit analysis, as determined by the Chair, in consultation with the Commission.  The Commission may focus on research and data initiatives in addition to those identified here. 

The Research and Data Plan for FY2016-2019 includes both short-term and long-term projects.  It authorizes a series of data collection, reporting and research efforts to be undertaken, as resources permit, beginning in FY2016 and continuing if necessary into FY2017.  The Plan also includes a series of longer-term projects.  The Chair, in consultation with the Commission, will determine the order in which the efforts will be undertaken, based on available resources and agency priorities.

1. Inventory of EEOC Data
   1. The Commission authorizes an inventory of existing EEOC data.
2. Survey Collection System Modifications and Additions
   1. The Commission authorizes study of a proposal to expand the EEO-3 survey to capture data on referrals from employment agencies.
   2. The Commission authorizes evaluation of the Pay Data Pilot to make recommendations concerning the collection of pay data through the EEO surveys.
3. Tracking and Reporting Data
   1. The Commission authorizes EEOC to standardize processes related to external data reporting, including development of requirements and cost proposal for an IMS Reporting Extract.
   2. The Commission authorizes the creation of an Employer Database for Integration with IMS.
   3. The Commission authorizes the addition of occupational codes and salary to the charging party profile in IMS.
4. Using Data for EEOC Responsibilities
   1. The Commission authorizes a research project on harassment in the workplace.
   2. The Commission authorizes ongoing support for the EEO Academic Data Center.
5. Long-Term Research Projects

   The Commission authorizes the following research projects that should be considered as agency priorities and resources allow:

   1. Study effectiveness of practices adopted to remedy discrimination as injunctive relief;
   2. Use IMS Data to identify industries with a high prevalence of violations and problematic practices;
   3. Research selection devices and other employment practices that serve as barriers to opportunity (as well as selection practices that rely on job-related criteria);
   4. Research effective communication of employee rights and responsibilities;
   5. Research a proposal to collect data on disabilities in EEO surveys;
   6. Research measures to evaluate EEOC's impact in reducing and correcting discrimination.  

II. AUTHORIZATIONS FOR FY2016 AND FY2017

The Strategic Enforcement Plan for 2012-2016, approved by the Commission in December 2012, requires the Commission to develop and approve a multi-year Research and Data Plan. Implementation of each of the initiatives and projects identified in this Plan is subject to available resources, and a cost-benefit analysis, as determined by the Chair, in consultation with the Commission.  In addition, the Commission may focus on research and data initiatives in addition to those identified here. 

The R&D Plan for FY2016-2019 includes both short-term and long-term projects. It authorizes a series of data collection, reporting and research efforts to be undertaken beginning in FY2016 through FY2017, as resources permit. The Plan also includes a series of longer-term projects. The Chair, in consultation with the Commission, will determine the order in which the efforts will be undertaken, based on available resources and agency priorities.

A. INVENTORY OF EEOC DATA

The Commission authorizes a data inventory effort covering existing EEOC data.   

The goal of the R&D Plan is to ensure that the EEOC uses sophisticated analytical tools to advance the agency's enforcement, outreach, operational and research activities.  This effort recognizes that data collected in the various databases are used to compile and record relevant information in support of the EEOC's day-to-day activities in enforcement, litigation, outreach and research.

To strengthen the agency's use of this data in support of its mission, the agency must begin with a comprehensive inventory of its data collection processes and data usage.  The Commission authorizes the Office of Research, Information and Planning (ORIP) to undertake this data inventory effort, in consultation with the Office of Information Technology (OIT), the Office of Field Programs (OFP), the Office of the General Counsel (OGC), and the Office of Federal Operations.

A comprehensive data inventory will ask and answer a number of questions, including but not limited to the following:

1. What data is the EEOC collecting?
2. Why is the EEOC collecting this data?
3. How often is the EEOC collecting the data, and what is the appropriate frequency?
4. What do EEOC (and others) use the data for?
5. Is the EEOC collecting the right data?
6. Is the EEOC using the data properly?
7. What is the EEOC's return on investment in terms of costs in staff and other resources for collecting EEOC data?
8. Do the EEOC data collection efforts support the EEOC's core mission?

When completed, the data inventory will provide the EEOC with:

1. A clear overview of what data the EEOC has in its databases, the purpose of the data, the opportunities for streamlining EEOC's databases the currency of the data, and previously unaddressed data categories that need to be added to the EEOC's databases;
2. The ability to manage information to ensure that the information is usable, meets users' needs, and that data collection and maintenance serve a clear and relevant purpose while avoiding redundancy; and
3. A foundation for moving forward in accomplishing the agency's mission in a well- informed and proactive manner.

The tasks included in this data inventory will be:

1. Document EEOC Databases

   Almost all EEOC data are captured through the EEOC's automated Integrated Mission System (IMS).  This data includes administrative enforcement data from the EEOC and Fair Employment Practices Agencies (FEPA) with whom the EEOC has work-sharing agreements.  The IMS database also includes litigation data, federal sector hearings and appeals data, and outreach data.[1]

   The EEO Surveys (EEO-1, EEO-3, EEO-4, and EEO-5) of workforce data from private-sector employers, unions, state and local governments and public elementary and secondary school systems are kept in individual databases for each survey and are stored at EEOC. 

   Oversight data on complaint activity in the federal sector and workforce demographics data from the federal sector are maintained in the FedSEP database.

   EEOC's financial (Oracle Federal Financials) and human resources (Federal Personnel and Payroll System) data are maintained through shared services with the Department of Interior (DOI).

   ORIP shall work with OIT and program offices to document the various systems and databases that EEOC maintains.  This documentation will also outline any integration across database systems.  This information will provide a comprehensive basis for the overall inventory assessment and will outline the priorities for the tasks noted below, in a phased approach. 

2. Collect Available Database Maps and Documentation

   ORIP shall identify the primary data tables in each database in order to document the data fields (with definition and format) and data relationships.

3. Catalog Analytic Data

   EEOC's databases for enforcement in the private, state and local sectors (both investigations and litigation), and enforcement in the federal sector, include transactional data elements that track the movement of charges and cases as they are processed.  These databases also contain analytic data elements that capture factors related to managing people and programs, such as timeliness, productivity, etc.  

   ORIP shall engage in the following activities to analyze the health of EEOC's analytic data:

   • 1) ORIP shall catalogue existing data elements to see what is currently available for analysis and where gaps may exist in the types of data collected.
   • 2) ORIP shall recommend any redefinitions of data elements, if needed.
   • 3) In addition to fields in the database, ORIP shall assess standard pre-programmed national report formats and the calculated data elements that those reports include (for example, average processing days).

   ORIP shall also assess the extent to which missing values are undermining the completeness of our databases.  An informational item may be planned as a part of a database but if that data field is missing a large number of observations, the data's utility and reliability will be limited.  If a large number of missing values affect a data field that is important for analysis, ORIP will work with the relevant EEOC office (i.e. the Office of Field Programs, the Office of General Counsel, or the Office of Federal Operations, depending on the specific database), to address the limitation.  Such efforts may include joint development of effective staff communication on the importance of entering a particular data point or joint development of alternative approaches to collecting the data.

   Finally, ORIP shall assess data elements in reports that users independently program via external reporting platforms, such as Hyperion, to extract data that is otherwise unavailable from existing standard reports. 

4. Assess Data

   ORIP shall assess EEOC data based on a number of criteria.[2]  This includes relevance to and facilitation of EEOC's enforcement programs, public education and development of outreach programs, service to EEOC's customers, and continual improvement to the organization at all levels.

5. Develop Plans to Reconcile and Prevent Data Inconsistencies

   ORIP shall develop an Action Plan designed to correct any disparities and data inconsistencies from three perspectives: (1) updating the "source" data (the system of record) to reflect the cleansed data; (2) developing rules, enforced through programming code, to maintain clean data in future entries; and (3) developing procedures for acquiring, converting and storing data that avoid data issues.  The goal shall be maintaining and collecting valid and reliable data in a single authoritative source.  This will be done in cooperation with the relevant EEOC program offices and the Office of Information Technology.

6. Document Report Format Utility

   ORIP shall evaluate report formats from both database-generated and custom-designed reports. 

   In order to do so, ORIP shall document the following information: 

   • 1) A list of primary reports, including database-generated and custom-designed reports, produced by the agency, together with a description of each report format;
   • 2) Documentation of data categories and their definitions for all primary report formats;
   • 3) Identification of the stated purpose for each primary report that is developed;
   • 4) Anecdotal user information on the effectiveness of primary report formats and a summary of desired information not provided by the primary report formats.
   • 5) A list of data elements that stakeholders and other outside requestors ask for but the EEOC does not currently collect or provide.

   Due to the volume of agency reports, this effort will be phased and will initially focus on the most commonly used reports and other priority areas identified during the data inventory efforts. 

7. Assess the Use of Reports to Manage Programs and People

   ORIP shall assess the use of EEOC reports.  The goal of this particular aspect of the assessment will be to determine whether relevant and beneficial data are being collected, and whether or not the data are applied appropriately to manage programs and people.

   To assess the extent to which the EEOC currently uses its data to manage programs and people, ORIP shall collect the following information:

   • 1) A list of data elements related to the management of programs and people;
   • 2) An overview of reports and analyses prepared by offices;
   • 3) Examples of information considered useful to the management process gained from database fields and reports; and
   • 3) Examples of missing data identified by program managers as needed to better manage the agency's work.
8. Maintain the Data Inventory

   It is understood that EEOC's databases continue to evolve as new requirements, such as those identified to support EEOC's digital services initiatives and new Executive Orders, emerge.  Therefore, processes will need to be put in place to maintain and update the data inventory in order to maintain its currency and relevancy.

B. SURVEY COLLECTION SYSTEM MODIFICATIONS AND ADDITIONS

The Commission authorizes a review and update of the EEO Surveys to provide for the collection of additional data that will enhance its enforcement efforts, allow greater self-assessment by employers, enable the examination of workforce changes among demographic groups to inform the public and serve as a measure of Commission performance, and improve the agency's research capabilities.

The EEO Survey Collection System (EEO-1, EEO-3, EEO-4, and EEO-5) collects workforce data from private-sector employers, unions, state and local governments and public elementary and secondary school systems.  This information is used for a variety of purposes, including enforcement, self-assessment by employers, and research.  Each of the EEO reports is a collection of data about gender, race, and ethnicity by job grouping.  Changes to EEOC surveys are subject to the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) and review and approval by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). Such proposed changes are brought to the Commission for a vote.

The tasks to be undertaken during the review and update are as follows:

1. Collection of Data on Referrals from Employment Agencies

   The Commission will consider a proposal to expand the EEO-3 Form to collect data on referrals from employment agencies.  ORIP will first conduct research to accompany the proposed rule.  Deliverables will include a burden statement that also discusses benefits.

   In today's workplaces, employers are increasingly relying on employment agencies to refer workers.  According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, "the employment services industry, which comprises employment placement agencies, temporary help services, and professional employer organizations, is projected to add 631,300 jobs, an annual rate of increase of 2.1 percent, and reach 3.3 million by 2020, placing this industry among those with the largest projected employment growth."[3]

   Individuals who work directly for the professional employer organizations or leasing agencies (i.e., the staff of such agencies) are covered by EEO-1 reports.  However, individuals who are referred out to work are not covered in the EEO-1 reports.  Given the high growth in the number of employees placed by such organizations, it is important to consider whether to modify the EEO-3 reports to capture the diversity of this population.

2. Pay Data Pilot

   Since President Obama launched the White House Equal Pay Task Force in January 2010, EEOC and its sister agencies, including the Department of Labor, the Department of Justice, and the Office of Personnel Management, have worked collectively to promote compliance with equal pay laws and to address pay discrimination under their enforcement mandates.  As recommended by the Task Force, the EEOC commissioned an outside study by the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) to review methods for measuring and collecting pay information by gender, race, and national origin to support the agency's pay discrimination enforcement efforts. The study panel's report, Collecting Compensation Data from Employers[4] recommended that the EEOC conduct a pilot data collection study to test a proposed collection instrument and to plan for the use of the data as well as to assess the costs and benefits of the proposed data collection effort.

   The Commission approved the hire of an independent contractor to conduct a pilot pay data collection study as recommended by the NAS panel.[5]  ORIP will study the pilot project's conclusions and make recommendations concerning methods for collecting and analyzing employer pay data.

C. TRACKING AND REPORTING DATA

The Commission authorizes EEOC to standardize processes related to external data reporting, including development of requirements and cost proposal for an IMS Reporting Extract.   

1. Standardization of Processes for External Data Reporting and Proposal for Annual Reporting Extract of IMS Charge Database

   The Commission authorizes the review and standardization of processes related to external data reporting, and the review of requirements and costs related to the establishment of an annual reporting extract of the IMS charge database.  The purpose of the reporting extract is to:

   • 1) Reconcile and freeze aggregated charge data in time;
   • 2) Allow for consistent reporting across all staff with responsibility for disseminating aggregate charge data publicly;
   • 3) Avoid fluctuations in reporting from the live database;
   • 4) Avoid reporting conflicting charge data; and
   • 5) Maintain control over charge data available for reporting.

   In all live databases, the data may change every day as users make corrections or adjustments to previously entered information.  Although this is a necessary function to keep data current and correct, it can cause problems when data released from the live database conflicts with data previously published by the EEOC.

   The first phase will look at private sector enforcement external data reporting requirements.  The current quarterly 396 reconciliation and reporting process and resultant 396 data reporting extract and archives will be reviewed to help determine how the current 396 reconciliation and extract process either meets or does not meet EEOC's external data reporting needs.  The intent is to streamline, not duplicate, the current data reconciliation and reporting processes.

2. Creation of an Employer Database for Integration with IMS

   The Commission authorizes ORIP to develop a centralized repository of employer data that would maintain key data, such as employer identification, parent/subsidiary relationships, NAICs code, contractor status, and other company related data elements, for linkage and integration with IMS Respondent data. 

   OIT has initiated a project to research alternative sources of employer data, including:  (a) employer data currently maintained and available from USASpending.gov, (b) an employer database under development at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), (c) data from commercial sources such as Dunn and Bradstreet (D&B), and (d) data that may be collected and maintained through EEOC's new Respondent Portal.  This Employer Database would also be used to maintain the data elements required by the Fair Pay/Safe Workplaces Executive Order.  OIT is also working with program offices to incorporate the collection of Fair Pay/Safe Workplace data into the agency's newly developed Act-Digital Respondent Portal for linkage to IMS. 

   Going forward, OIT and ORIP will work with the program offices to identify requirements for both data collection (sources) and data integration for the Employer Database.  Recurring maintenance costs associated with maintaining the currency of the data will be forwarded to the Chair for review.  The new Employer Database will provide "day-forward" mapping to new charges/respondents.  Therefore, cost estimates will also be obtained to have a service (such as D&B) provide mapping of current IMS Respondent records to the Employer Data, to provide this linkage and thereby improve the quality of EEOC's existing Respondent data. 

   In addition to this effort, OIT and ORIP will work together to expand linkages between IMS and other EEOC Surveys (EEO-3, EEO-4, EEO-5) either directly or through this Employer Database, as appropriate. Linking IMS respondents directly to their related D&B record, along with their EEO survey record, and other company data, would be a positive step toward better standardizing, analyzing and reporting on EEOC's respondent data. It would also improve searching and standardization on items such as NAICS information, parent/subsidiary relationships, and locations. 

3. Enhancing the Collection of Occupational Codes and Pay in Charging Party Profiles

   The Commission authorizes enhancing the IMS system to facilitate the collection of charging party occupation and pay data subject to a cost/benefit analysis as determined by the Chair, in consultation with the Commission.

   Collecting occupation and pay data about charging parties will allow the agency to determine the rate at which charging parties in different occupations and/or pay ranges file charges.  In addition, collecting such data will allow the agency to determine the rate at which charging parties in the same occupations and/or pay ranges file charges based on their ethnicity, age, geography, etc.

   The current Intake Questionnaire asks the charging party about his or her "pay rate."  However, improved data code fields need to be established in IMS, specifically the addition of an occupational code.  OIT will work with ORIP and program offices to outline requirements and estimate costs for these modifications, taking into account any additional data already being collected under updated systems. 

   The IMS database automatically inserts an industrial code (NAICS code) when a standardized respondent name is entered into IMS.  However, when a non-standard name is entered, the investigator must do a manual search to ascertain the correct industry code and then enter that code in the system.  The ACT Digital system may be used to collect additional Respondent identifying information.

   ORIP, in consultation with OFP and OIT, shall prepare a cost/benefit analysis for the Chair regarding the collection of enhanced occupational and pay data. The analysis shall include data requirements, cost estimates and workload projections.  The Commission's authorization of enhanced collection of occupational codes and pay data is contingent on the Chair's determination, in consultation with the Commission, that the benefits of enhanced collection of this data outweigh the costs. 

D. USING DATA FOR EEOC RESPONSIBILITIES

The Commission authorizes the utilization of EEOC data to study harassment trends.  In addition, the Commission authorizes support of an EEO Academic Data Center that will house valuable EEO data and serve as a resource for academic studies that will benefit the Commission and the public. 

1. Harassment Research Plan

   The Commission authorizes ORIP to study EEOC charge data as well as federal sector hearing and appeal statistics, along with EEO survey and Census data to determine which private sector and federal, state and local government employers and industries are most frequently subject to allegations of harassment.  Such a study, subject to a cost/benefit analysis as determined by the Chair, will be undertaken after consultation and coordination with the Commission's Select Task Force on the Study of Harassment in the Workplace. 

   In January 2015, Chair Yang announced the formation of a Select Task Force on the Study of Harassment in the Workplace, co-chaired by Commissioners Chai Feldblum and Victoria Lipnic.  A study by ORIP of the agency's current data on harassment charges in the private sector by employer and occupation, as well as similar complaints in the federal sector by agency and grade level/positions, will assist the efforts of the Select Task Force.    

2. EEO Academic Data Center

   The Commission authorizes ORIP to support the development and ongoing viability of an EEO Academic Data Center.

   The University of Massachusetts, Amherst received a grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to operate an EEOC Data Network.  This network coordinates relationships between EEOC and its academic partners to facilitate data access and security, and to become a hub for cumulative expertise in the use of EEOC data products.  The University of Massachusetts, Amherst has recently submitted a proposal for a larger EEOC Data Center.  As the hope is that the Data Center will be funded through grants, the Data Center will not be dependent on EEOC resources.  However, the success and growth of the EEO Academic Data Center will depend on continued active involvement of the EEOC.  ORIP and OIT will work with the Academic Data Center to review and coordinate security requirements associated with protecting the confidentiality, integrity and availability of EEOC's data (in aggregated form) that is maintained at this Center.

   There are many significant functions currently performed by ORIP staff that the Data Center could undertake. Those functions would be part of the central mission of the Data Center and performed on a larger scale than ORIP can now perform with its limited resources.  Activities currently undertaken by ORIP staff to encourage academic research may, consistent with statutory confidentiality requirements, be transferred to an outside academic center.  Examples include explaining the availability of data, confidentiality restrictions, and processes necessary to obtain access to EEOC data.   Additionally detailed explanations of the contents and structure of the data sets and best practices for working with the data can be provided by the data center. This will free up ORIP staff to assist with enforcement activities that are the primary mission of the EEOC.  

III. Long-Term Research Projects

The Commission shall consider, as resources allow, the following long-term research projects:

1. Study effectiveness of practices adopted to remedy discrimination as injunctive relief: Effective injunctive relief is a key element in resolving discrimination investigations and litigation. A number of scholars have examined personnel practices that are often required as injunctive relief to remedy discrimination and have attempted to measure the impact or outcomes of those practices.  The proposed research would identify personnel practices associated with injunctive relief in order to measure the impact of these practices in ensuring nondiscrimination. A literature review will examine empirical methods for identifying and isolating the relevant injunctive relief and practices, as well as methods to measure the efficacy of the injunctive relief.  Once a literature review is completed, a research design will be implemented to promote the use of practices identified as effective in reducing discrimination and to analyze the efficacy of these forms of injunctive relief (as obtained in EEOC litigation and conciliation as well as other settlements).  There are a number of benefits to studying the types and effectiveness of injunctive relief, including the identification of practices to assist employers and to measure the Commission's impact in addressing and remedying discrimination. 
2. Enhance the use of IMS data: The Strategic Enforcement Plan recommends using EEOC data to allow our enforcement and outreach efforts to focus on areas of significant concern.   This might include tailoring outreach efforts for industries that experience greater likelihood of certain charges or informing enforcement decisions based on knowledge that certain industries have persistent problems, such as harassment.  The data maintained in IMS provide a rich resource of information that can be used to explore the characteristics of industries that appear to have higher levels of certain allegations than comparative industries.
3. Research screening devices, tests, and other practices to identify barriers to opportunity across employers and industries as well as promising selection practices that rely on job-related criteria: Conduct literature reviews to identify practices that may serve as barriers to opportunity, such as conviction screens, credit checks, and screens for unemployment. Study emerging online screening and selection devices, including internet-based assessments that rely on big data analytics and new technology in order to assess the likelihood of employment discrimination caused by these devices. Study validation evidence to determine the likely job relatedness of the instruments used. In addition, develop a centralized bank of information concerning policies, practices, employment inquiries, and employment tests that have raised concerns of discrimination in EEOC investigations.

   This research will assist the Commission in 1) focusing its enforcement efforts on selection devices and practices that serve as significant barriers to opportunity and 2) providing technical assistance to employers to highlight promising practices and ensure that selection practices focus on job related factors. 

4. Research effective communication of EEO rights and responsibilities: ORIP in conjunction with EEOC's Office of Communications and Legislative Affairs will study methods for best reaching a variety of audiences with information about their rights and responsibilities, updates and new information. For example, the "EEO Is the Law" poster, which is required by statute, see 42 U.S.C. § 2000e-10(a), is an important mechanism for informing employees of their rights and responsibilities. Two issues regarding the poster warrant further consideration.  First, the poster does not specifically state the timeliness requirements for a particular charge of discrimination.  Second, posters may not be the most effective method for communicating rights and responsibilities, particularly with dispersed and mobile workforces.  Two types of research are to be considered here:  (1) determine the best techniques for communicating the timeliness requirement; and (2) determine if supplements to the current paper poster, for example, apps and other technology-based communication tools, would more effectively communicate rights and responsibilities. 
5. Research a proposal to collect data on individuals with disabilities in all EEO surveys: ORIP will examine the feasibility of collecting data on individuals with disabilities, including the costs and benefits for collecting this data on all of the EEO surveys.

   The collection of data about individuals with disabilities, which has been the practice in the federal sector for many years, would provide a number of benefits.  In terms of enforcement, it would assist in charge processing by allowing enforcement staff to verify allegations made by charging parties, determining where an allegation might indicate a broader practice appropriate for investigation. The collection of this data would also assist in determining whether charge activity based on the ADA is consistent with other types of charge activity.   Further, it would assist in the assessment of employer policies and the development of possible new policies.  Similarly, such data collection may prove useful in measuring the Commission's impact in addressing and remedying discrimination. 

6. Research measures to evaluate EEOC's impact in reducing and correcting discrimination: The Commission recognizes that an important element of a data and research plan is to collect data and conduct research to measure performance.[6]  OMB has recommended that the EEOC develop a baseline to measure and study EEOC's impact in reducing discrimination in employment as a long-term project.  ORIP will study metrics for examining the impact of the Commission's work, particularly the impact of outreach, education, and guidance and technical assistance documents.

IV. Conclusion

The goal of this Research and Data Plan for FY2016 to FY2019  is to move the EEOC towards using more sophisticated analytical tools for enforcement, outreach, and operational performance to better serve the public and continuously improve the agency's work overall.  OMB has often referenced the need for federal agencies to move towards utilizing "business intelligence" and relevant software as a means of tracking and reporting operational and performance information to support mission results.  Such requirements are included in the Government Performance and Results Modernization Act, OMB Quality of Information Guidelines, Open Government initiatives regarding transparency and accountability, Customer Service assessments, and other government performance improvement efforts.[7]  By creating this multi-year strategic research and data plan, the agency aims to maximize the impact of its limited research and data collection funds and to achieve the outcomes set forth by OMB.