Office of Business Management & Transformation (OBMT)

About OBMT

Background

In April 2006 the Assistant Secretary for Administration (ASA) created the Office of Business Management & Transformation (OBMT) to develop innovative strategies for change by breaking away from pre-existing boundaries and approaching management challenges from a customer focused, business results orientation. The intention was to better assist the Operating and Staff Divisions in meeting the Department’s overarching mission to help Americans live longer, healthier, and better lives, and do it in a way that protects our economic competitiveness as a nation. Recognizing the need to improve the level of our service offerings while, at the same time, reducing the cost of the service delivery was a key motivating factor behind ASAM’s transformation. OBMT was created to help spearhead ASAM’s efforts to become a higher performing organization - and, wherever possible, to apply transformational practices Department-wide.

Conceived as an internal consulting group, OBMT builds upon the success of the Office of Commercial Services Management with an expanded portfolio including broader transformational responsibilities. Led by a Deputy Assistant Secretary for Business Transformation, OBMT works with organizations across HHS.

The OBMT approach is highly collaborative - its goal is to assist the Operating and Staff Divisions in fulfilling their missions without imposing directed change. By design, OBMT does not have a large staff. Rather, it is composed of several business and policy professionals who are dedicated to creating successful outcomes. Most projects involve all OBMT staff in one capacity or another, leveraging their various areas of expertise to best meet the needs of their clients.

OBMT’s role is to assist ASA and the Department to create an environment where sound business practices produce strong program results and meaningful outcomes. It has a broad responsibility to look for ways to improve performance, reduce costs, and streamline management practices and processes in support of those who carry out HHS’ core mission activities. To accomplish these objectives, OBMT analyzes current programs and initiatives, identifies gaps in service, develops proposals and business cases to improve capabilities, and partners with the Operating and Staff Divisions (OPDIVs/STAFFDIVs) in implementing solutions - especially those that cross organizational boundaries.