Monday, 21 January 2008
Recent results of a new requirements process on technology infusion in the National Weather Service
Exhibit Hall B (Ernest N. Morial Convention Center)
The National Weather Service (NWS) has been using a new requirements management process for the past 4 years. This process is called the Operations and Services Improvement Process (OSIP). The process is designed to streamline the planning efforts for new technology infusion into operations and allow for management decision making with respect to the priorities of each project. This paper will summarize the impact of this process on the technology infusion within the NWS. The process consists of a series of stages called Gates in which the project is reviewed. Documentation must be prior to each Gate. This documentation includes a Statement of Need, Concept of Operations, Operational Requirements Document, Project Plan, Business Case and Technical Requirements Document. Each project is prioritized both by an objective scheme relating to Mission Priority and Impact to Performance goals and subjectively by the regional headquarters representing the NWS field priorities. Over 200 projects have been submitted through the system and many have been implemented. This paper will highlight the successes of this process and focus in on major technology infusion items under development currently. The paper will also highlight areas of the areas of recent improvement and show examples of where the process has saved development time and helped focus resource decision-making.
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