Performance Measures Themes 2007
From Exchange Network Wiki
Derived from feedback provided by partners in the 2007 Performance Measures Survey, the following themes, needs, successes, and actions were identified by the NPRG.
Guidance, Training, and Support Resources
- EN is still difficult for many to use
- Need more guidance documents and information
- Need more hands-on help/technical support (Node Help Desk, etc)
- Praise for responsiveness of EN and Help Desk staff
- Network alerts are great
- Need more training on use of the EN
- Partners need more help for initial node installation (e.g., better information on how to get started; examples of a working node)
- Do outreach to grant recipients to help get nodes and data flows implemented
- For each EN website data exchange page, have an example produced XML file.
- Simplify grant process
Contracting
- There is a strong reliance on contractors
- To reduce misconceptions about the role of contractors, the EN should develop information resource on the roles and relationships among EN partners, ECOS, node venders and other contractors.
Expanded Scope of the Network and Functionality of the Network
- Need to do more to promote state to state exchanges; not just reporting to EPA; could do more describing and promoting the non-EPA-centric value of the EN
Improved Functionality of the Network
- Need better schema/XML checking/validation tools
- Schema change too frequently; they are a moving target for users
- Strong support for data standards being created
- Schema need to be completed
- Need more reliable Node
- Excitement for "Next Generation" node
- Need user friendly format for flow data uploads
- Need some way to manage security policies granted by local node admins to users.
- Simplify new flows
- Need better coordination in flows across media (e.g., AQS and WQX use different ways to describe analytical method data)
- Improve messaging services for receipt of data, error processing and notification, schema problems, testing tools
Broaden Partners/Users of the Network
- Need more funding
- Great support network (grant program)
- Improve functionality (e.g., summary reports) for managers and high-level decision-makers
- Improve information about program-related hurdles
Better Information on EN Partners’ Activities/Ideas
- Need better leveraging of what others have done
- Need online directory of all EN projects currently in development with good technical description and contact information.
Improve State/Tribal Business Processes Related to the EN
- Reduce partners’ information receiving and reporting burden
- No incentive for our agency to use anything different than the traditional methods of abstracting data from EPA sources.
- Time/cost/energy of maintaining isn't worth the benefit
EPA role and support
- Need better EPA/Regional coordination/communication
- EPA programs are not as supportive as they should be (e.g., RCRA flow, changes to schema, STORET requirements for tribes)
- EPA programs not ready to exchange data
