Performance Measures Themes 2008
From Exchange Network Wiki
Derived from feedback provided by partners in the 2008 Performance Measures Survey, the following themes, needs, successes, and actions were identified by the NPRG.
Target communication efforts for both experienced partners with specific information needs and new partners with more general needs
- Continue 1) providing assistance to partners, 2) developing guidance, documentation and updates, and 3) sharing EN successes and implementation lessons.
- Develop more timely or targeted responses to partner needs and updates on changes to EN Resources, including:
- More timely responses to questions from EN partners
- More consistent updates on flow issues, including alerts about schema changes
- Customized alerts so that users may subscribe to only certain subjects to avoid overwhelming users with unnecessary or unwanted information
- More transparency and contact from governance groups
- Increase technical support and education to partners less familiar with the EN and related technology, including:
- XML support (e.g., to help partners guide their contractors to translate data for the EN)
- Education to potential and current partners on flow technology basics
- Targeted guidance for small data providers that do not have advanced technical capabilities
- Increased materials online on getting started and resolving problems (CS)
Expand and improve partnerships
- Support partner-to-partner information sharing, through
- Connecting states and tribes with like interests, needs, or platforms so they can work cooperatively on shared endeavors
- Building a matrix of states and tribes and their respective platforms, needs, and flow status (AV)
- Deepening engagement with Tribal Nations
- Further explore options for exchanging data with those outside of EPA
- Increase the level of commitment and support from EPA program offices
- Stronger cross-program commitment from upper management and executives
- Meet technical deadlines
- Better communicate the value-added by the Network to Partners and potential partners
- Ensure inter-regional consistency of policies around exchanges
Assist partners with implementation and growth not dependent upon third party contractors
- Make meta-tools available that allow partners to more easily install and maintain nodes, rather than needing private contractors to build and install software
- Support resources for partners (particularly smaller data providers) to develop capacity in-house in support of exchanges
Continue technical improvements and innovation on the Network
- Develop flows that are not unnecessarily complicated
- Implement technical changes quickly
- Address bugs quickly
- Develop schemas in a more timely manner
- Make the schema approval process more timely
- Develop and support a XML generation tool and a schematron to validate exchange protocols
- Build software that removes XML duplicates
- Improve error messaging
- Develop detailed reports on data validation errors that are easily available when proofing a new flow
- Standardize the process of configuration across data flows
- Accounts creation
- Permissions
- Error messaging
- Functionality
Achieve the initial Exchange Network vision
- Work toward the original vision of the EN as a streamlined method for sharing and/or publishing information in support of environmental decision making
- Ensure that flows provide obvious and high value added to the user community, including
- Cost savings to partners and agencies
- Being a one-stop-shop for data needs
- Reduced staff time from processing data
- Enable partners to provide data to outside agencies without being distracted from incorporating data and analytics to their in-house policy creation and decision making process
- Set clear and consistent goals and objectives for the EN to help guide partners’ activities
