“Engaged California” Deliberative Democracy Survey Results

On July 15, 2025, Governor Newsom issued Executive Order N-30-25 directing state agencies to modernize and streamline processes around hiring, procurement, contracts, and enhance the efficiency, engagement, and effectiveness of state operations.  The EO also directed the Office of Data and Innovation (ODI) to engage the state workforce to source innovative ideas to improve efficiency.  On July 29, 2025, ACSS participated in a demonstration of the Engaged California platform designed to help the state workforce generate novel ideas to advance efficiency, effectiveness, and engagement across state agencies.

Over a 10-week engagement, more than 1,400 California state employees, including ACSS members, shared insights on how to make State government more efficient. All types of employees participated. Approximately two thirds of the survey respondents disclosed their position level. Of those, 23% said they were a manager or supervisor. Just under half disclosed that they had worked for the State of California for over 10 years.

What state employees said

The survey revealed a clear story: Improving government efficiency involves more than updating technology or cutting costs. It requires a management culture that empowers employees and fosters innovation.

State employees drive excellent services forward. They are subject matter experts on what it takes to operate state government.

They shared 2,477 comments and 2,627 ideas that could be disseminated into 10 themes (in order of highest number of ideas):

1. Recruitment, hiring and retention
2. Process improvement
3. Communication and knowledge sharing
4. Public-facing services and resident experience
5. Budget and resources
6. Technology and digital innovation
7. Management culture and leadership
8. Workplace operations
9. Organizational structure and culture
10. Governance and oversight

After gathering these insightful contributions, the California Office of Data and Innovation took action on many of these ideas:

• In July 2025, they launched the Governor's Innovation Fellows program that showcases how state employees solve real problems to improve services for Californians
• Results showing measurable accomplishments of state agencies and departments that have addressed inefficiencies are posted on results.ca.gov
• The Innovation Showcase brings together private and public sectors to co-create
• The Innovation Community of Practice connects state employees who want to try new ways of doing things

Click here to learn more about this survey and the Engaged California project.

As the Administration seeks to implement these recommendations, ACSS will meet with CalHR as appropriate to ensure the interests of excluded employees are addressed and protected.