SUMMARY OF ASSESSMENT AND EVALUATION PROCESSES
NSF makes use of qualitative information as well as quantitative data
in determining progress toward achieving the Foundation’s goals. During
FY 1999, NSF established new reporting systems and procedures, reporting
guidelines, and templates to enable the collection, assessment, and analysis
of the information and data necessary for reporting performance. Data
sources for each goal as well as data limitations were identified. Steps
to alleviate limitations were also identified. NSF has put in place methods
to ascertain data quality problems and is developing methods for correction
of the problems. For many of the goals, the data sources are central systems
while other goals have required creation of new data/information systems
to track programs. NSF has identified areas where complete data was not
available for FY 1999 reporting, and is taking steps to modify its data
systems, where appropriate. NSF will continue striving to improve its
data quality and accuracy by improving processes, systems and data input
and collection.
NSF will continue striving to
improve its data quality and accuracy by improving processes, systems
and data input and collection. |
NSF’s programs and plans are reviewed throughout the year on a continuing
basis by internal staff, senior management, and external advisory committees,
to determine whether changes are necessary. Regular reviews also provide
useful information for establishing new goals and redirecting efforts.
Changes to programs and plans may be necessitated by inability to meet
a goal, lack of appropriateness of a goal, or inability to measure a goal.
These changes are handled through the performance plans and internal management.
Major changes, when necessary, are handled through revisions to the strategic
plan.
NSF receives and maintains performance information in the form of reports
from the external community through Committees of Visitors (COVs) and
Advisory Committees (ACs). COVs and ACs are committees made up of independent
external experts from academia, industry, government and the public sector.
COVs are subcommittees of directorate advisory committees, whose meetings
are subject to Federal Advisory Committee Act rules.
Each year, approximately one-third of NSF’s programs are reviewed, so
that all programs have been reviewed at the end of a three-year period.
COVs and ACs produce reports, which are used in assessing NSF’s performance,
and provide advice to NSF on needed improvements. These COV reports and
advisory committee reports combined with data from internal databases,
and with appropriate integration by NSF management, form the basis for
NSF’s performance reports, performance plans, and strategic plans.
Program Assessment by Committees of Visitors (COVs)
COVs review NSF programs for quality of process and results on a 3-year
cycle. COVs have access to all of NSF’s information and systems. COVs
report to NSF on the integrity and efficiency of the processes for proposal
review and the quality of resultsthe outputs and outcomes of NSF’s programs
as they appear over time. In FY 1999, COVs were asked to judge whether
NSF was successful in achieving Goals 1-4, and in implementing the new
merit review criteria (Goal 7). COVs used a standardized reporting template
with a set of questions addressing process, program management, and quality
of outcomes to conduct their assessment of NSF programs. COVs also report
on the noteworthy achievements of each year, ways in which projects have
collectively affected progress, and expectations for future performance.
The recommendations of COVs are reviewed by management and taken into
consideration by NSF when evaluating existing programs and future directions
for the Foundation. COV reports are public documents, available upon request.
Directorate Assessment by Advisory Committees
Directorate Advisory Committees, composed of external experts who have
broad experience in academia, industry, and government, annually review
the COV reports, available external assessments, and directorate annual
reports, judging program effectiveness, and describing strengths and weaknesses.
Directorate annual reports are a balanced representation of the directorate’s
activities for the fiscal year, including results of COV reports and results
from programs not reviewed by COVs in the fiscal year. Advisory committees
have full access to a variety of data sources. Advisory committees use
the combined COV reports and directorate annual reports as the basis for
a strategic planning discussion. NSF management reviews the advisory committee
reports and integrates the assessments into the NSF Annual Performance
Report.
Integrating NSF’s Performance Report
The COV reports and advisory committee reports form the basis for reporting
outcome goal results. Examples of outcomes are also selected from directorate
annual reports, and other sources such as project reports, newspaper articles,
publications, or other reports. NSF management integrates the results
of the investment process goals and management goals with the outcome
goals to produce this report. The resulting information is also used in
preparing the annual performance plans and strategic plans.
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Summary of Assessment
and Evaluation Process
Summary of Findings
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