The Foreign Service Journal, March 2023

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | MARCH 2023 51 AFSA NEWS create a two-tier system that would necessitate those without restrictions to take more hardship assignments. Respondents were less sanguine on the staying power of DEIA reforms. Thirty-five percent agreed or strongly agreed the reforms would be sustained; 28 percent said they would not; and a significant percentage, 36 percent, were neutral or had no opinion. Black Foreign Service members gave even lower marks: 60 percent disagreed; 20 percent agreed; and 20 percent were neutral. Mission Orientation. Respondents indicated they were gen- erally willing to face hardship, danger, discrimination, and family dislocation to accomplish the Foreign Service mission. Written responses reflected expectations that those mem- bers who experienced discrimination overseas could rely on their agencies to provide adequate support. Multiple respon- dents pointedly noted they faced discrimination from their own colleagues. In addition, several respondents said they were willing to put up with discrimination when they were representing the United States overseas but drew the line at their families being subjected to the same treatment. Leadership Accountability. Almost three-quarters of respondents favored expanding the use of 360-degree reviews in Foreign Service agencies, with caveats. Several USAID respondents characterized the newly introduced multisource reviews (MSRs), a type of 360-review, as supervisor “popularity contests.” Some cautioned that 360s should mainly be used as lead- ership development tools, not for evaluations. Anonymity in small posts was another challenge mentioned with the use of the 360s. 100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% Q51: Black Foreign Service members Q51: All other respondents (excludes Black Foreign Service members) Strongly disagree Disagree Neutral/Not sure Agree Strongly agree Regarding creating a non-legal channel for report- ing harassment, bullying, or discrimination, 69 percent of respondents agreed or strongly agreed with the proposal. The Role of Technology. When asked to choose the best use of technology, 30 percent said improved technol- ogy could be used to make agency decision-making more efficient. Twenty-five percent thought artificial intelligence could be used to shorten administrative process times. Generations differed as to the other category of uses: Baby Boomers wanted mobile technology that could handle classified information; Millennials and Gen Xers favored more data for decision-making. Respondents offered suggestions for improvement and indi- cated they need systems that function efficiently and effectively at a basic level; systems should use fewer platforms and be interagency-compatible. Many recommended that Foreign Service entrants receive laptops and phones upon joining and keep agency-provided equipment throughout their careers. Many respondents noted the heavy administrative burden placed on Foreign Service employees, in particular in relation to permanent change of station (PCS)—like travel arrangements and voucher processing—but also basic functions like payroll and leave. Improved technology could help. Respondents highlighted the need for updated consular systems. Overseas respondents observed that some technology like headsets could be made available to allow personnel in con- trolled access areas (CAA) to participate in Teams calls. Finally, several respondents cautioned against bias in using artificial intelligence. More Information. The PowerPoint document with all agency responses is available at www.bit.ly/FFSWresults. For results broken down by agency, visit: • www.bit.ly/FFSW-State • www.bit.ly/FFSW-USAID • www.bit.ly/FFSW-FAS • www.bit.ly/FFSW-FCS Questions can be directed to AFSA’s Director of Professional Policy Issues Julie Nutter at nutter@afsa.org or Policy Analyst Sean O’Gorman at ogorman@afsa.org. n Please rate this statement: I believe Foreign Service agency reforms to promote diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility will be sustained.