Assignment:
Taking Care of Employees Helps the Patent Office Serve the Public
David Kappos is the director of the U.S. Patent and Trademarks Office (USPTO). The agency went from the 172nd place, out of 222 agencies, to the top place to work in the federal government. The key to the increase in employee satisfaction is the employee development program that Kappos implemented. He developed a leadership development plan for all employees because of the belief that all employees need leadership skills. He also uses a "180-degree" assessment that combines self-assessments with feedback from supervisor or mentors. All senior managers go through a 360-degree feedback every two years.
Besides the approaches to employee development described in the case, how else would you recommend that the USPTO provide for employee development?