Department of Homeland Security Strategic Plan Review

The Department of Homeland Security’s Strategic Plan

The five missions listed in the Department of Homeland Security’s Strategic Plan are: preventing terrorism and enhancing security; securing and managing American borders; enforcing and administering immigration laws; protecting and securing cyberspace; and bolstering national preparedness and resilience. (U.S. Department of Homeland Security, 2014).

Performance Metrics: A Crucial Part of a Strategic Plan

Since they allow for the ongoing assessment of progress, which is essential for a strategic plan to be successful, performance metrics are a crucial part of a strategic plan. (Atkinson, Waterhouse & Wells, 1997). Each mission has its own success indicators and strategic plan-covered annual goals. As such, the review will focus on performance measures of Mission 2: Secure and Manage Our Borders. The analysis will enable a better understanding of the rationale behind the performance measures and whether they are appropriate or not for the purpose set out in the strategic plan.

Performance Measures for Mission 2: Secure and Manage Our Borders

The rate of interdiction effectiveness along the Southwest Border between ports of entry is a performance measure that is meant to prevent the entry of people and goods illegally through the points of entry. The measure is an indication that the department is operating at its optimum and effectively rooting out illegal exit and entry and the border points.

The percent of people apprehended multiple times along the Southwest border is an important performance measure since a low figure is an indication of the effectiveness of the department’s deterrence strategy.

The number of smuggled outbound weapons seized at the ports of entry shows the effectiveness of the search and seizure procedures at the points of entry.

Percent of detected conventional aircraft incursions along all the borders of the United States is set at 100 percent which means that all personnel should be perfect in their attempts to detect such incursions.

The percent of inbound cargo identified by points of entry as potentially high risk that is assessed or scanned prior to departure or at arrival at a U.S. port of entry is set at a 100 percent implies the quality of scanning protocol expected from all ports of entry. This is important if the homeland is to be kept safe.

The percent of imports compliant with U.S. trade laws is kept at a high percentage of 97.5 percent which shows the commitment of the United States to lawful trade.

The percentage of import revenue successfully collected is targeted at 100 percent which illustrated the department’s propensity to efficiency in revenue collection.

The fishing regulation compliance rate is also a performance indicator that is meant to streamline the sector in order to ensure sustainability in the long run.

The number of detected incursions of foreign fishing vessels violating U.S. waters increases over the period which illustrates increased effectiveness in the department’s endeavors.

The percent of transnational gang investigations resulting in the disruption or dismantlement of high- threat transnational gangs is an important performance measure especially considering the proliferation of gangs in the SouthWest. The high targets set by the strategic plan mean that a lot of work has to be done.

The last performance measure in mission 2 involves disruption of high-threat child exploitation or sex trafficking organizations or individuals. This performance measure is a reactive move to counter increasing human trafficking across the border.

Usefulness and Relevance of Performance Measures

The performance measures are useful, logical, and relevant. The issues covered by the performance measures are current issues that have been problematic to the department and thus needed addressing. The focus on trade and security is what national borders are all about so the performance measures are perfect. The targets set for the four- year period are realistic and achievable. For tougher tasks, the use of increasing targets over the years will enable the department work gradually towards total effectiveness at the ports of entry.

References

Atkinson, A. A., Waterhouse, J. H., & Wells, R. B. (1997). A stakeholder approach to strategic performance measurement. Sloan management review, 38(3), 25.

U.S. Department of Homeland Security (2014). Fiscal Years 2014- 2018 Strategic Plan.