DOI Travel Lab Questionnaire Date: Mon, 18 Mar 1996 13:41:07 -0500 From: Lesley Levi To: "USGS Employees"<@gs_all> Subject: DOI Travel Lab Questionnaire Please share this information to those who do not have access to electronic mail. DOI TRAVEL LAB QUESTIONNAIRE USGS is participating in a Departmental Reinvention Lab to streamline travel processes and to improve service to travelers. Your cooperation in completing this questionnaire will assist greatly in this effort. We would appreciate it if you could take a few minutes to complete the questionnaire and e-mail or mail your response to Susan R. Sheely, who is the USGS representative. The lab has requested a short turnaround and would like to have the responses by Friday, March 22. All responses will be treated in confidence. Your assistance in this important effort is greatly appreciated. Questions can be directed to Susan R. Sheely on 703-648-7602. RESPOND TO: Susan R. Sheely - (e-mail: SSheely; or mail to OFM MS270) I. GENERAL 1. Did You Take any Official Government Travel [Temporary Duty (TDY)] Trips during FY 1995? 2. If you answered yes to question 1, please estimate the number of TDY trips you took in FY 1995. 3. Do You Presently Have a Government Sponsored American Express Charge Card (AMEX Charge Card) ? 4. If #3 above is yes, Do You Have ATM privileges for obtaining travel advances? 5. Do You Use Any Other Charge Cards (Other than the Government sponsored AMEX) for charging Official Travel Related Expenses? 6. If you answered yes to question 5, what percent of your official travel related expenses are charged on: _____% on the AMEX card ______ % on Other Card(s). 7. For analytical purposes, what is your present grade level? II. ELAPSED TIME INFORMATIn bmome par trof t vourave beforesyou reirive yovr reimbursement for travel. III. DIRECT TRAVEL RELATED TIME Some parts of the travel process require you (or someone on your administrative support staff) to perform certain actions. For the travel related functions below, please identify who performs the functions, and how much time (in minutes) you estimate it takes (for each trip). 13. Typing and "Hand Carrying" the Trip Authorization request through the approval process - who does it and how long does it take? 14. Contacting the contract travel agency (TMC) that services your office - (to obtain flight schedule & hotel information) - who does it and how long does it take? 15. Making the Travel Reservations - who does it and how long does it take? 16. Picking up the Tickets - who does it and how long does 12. Average Number of Days after you sign and submit your travel voucher before you receive your reimbursement for travel. III. DIRECT TRAVEL RELATED TIME Some parts of the travel process require you (or someone on your administrative support staff) to perform certain actions. For the travel related functions below, please identify who performs the functions, and how much time (in minutes) you estimate it takes (for each trip). 13. Typing and "Hand Carrying" the Trip Authorization request through the approval process - who does it and how long does it take? 14. Contacting the contract travel agency (TMC) that services your office - (to obtain flight schedule & hotel information) - who does it and how long does it take? 15. Making the Travel Reservations - who does it and how long does it take? 16. Picking up the Tickets - who does it and how long does it take? 17. Gathering the necessary receipts in preparation for the Travel Voucher - who does it and how long does it take? 18. Preparing the Travel Voucher - who does it and how long does it take? 19. Getting the Necessary Signature Approvals for the travel voucher before it is submitted for payment - who does it and how long does it take (actual work time not elapsed time)? 20. Collecting the Reimbursement for Travel - who does it and how long does it take (actual work time not elapsed time)? 21. Time spent in making the Necessary Payment to your Government Sponsored Travel Card Company (Your AMEX bill) - how long does it take? IV. OTHER TRAVEL RELATED ISSUES 22. How do you get reimbursed for travel - Treasury Check, Electronic Deposit, Cash (Imprest Fund), or Third Party Draft? 23. How is your travel voucher normally prepared - Manually, through Automated Travel Software, or through an Electronic Forms Package? 24. If you had the choice, would you prefer to have the bureau make your payment directly to the Government sponsored travel charge card vendor (currently American Express) for the official charges incurred by you while on official travel? 25. What Parts (if any) of the present travel process do you think work quite well? 26. What Parts of the present travel process could be improved? What are your suggestions for improvement?