About SDE

ENHANCING WEATHER SERVICES THROUGH INTERDISCIPLINARY SYSTEMS 

Introduction 

The Service Delivery Evaluation (SDE) team within the National Weather Service (NWS) plays a pivotal role in integrating interdisciplinary insights to enhance weather, water, and climate services. This strategic plan outlines a roadmap for the SDE team to address key challenges, leverage data more effectively, and expand communication with the public. By focusing on collaboration and innovation, the SDE team aims to be a key component of the NWS, as we work to fulfill our mission of protecting life and property while bolstering economic resilience.

This document provides an overview of the goals, objectives, and immediate actions required to achieve the vision for the SDE team, along with guiding questions for continuous development and refinement. Additionally, it includes two facilitation guides designed to help the SDE team integrate these goals with existing NWS priorities and assign ownership of objectives through structured, collaborative discussions. 

Who Are SDE 

At the core of achieving these objectives is the SDE team, an interdisciplinary group of economists, psychologists, sociologists, and communicators dedicated to integrating relevant disciplinary expertise into NWS operations.

Together, the team works to create data-driven strategies that enhance the effectiveness of the NWS. The team's mission is to ensure that NWS services are informed by interdisciplinary knowledge, thus improving the delivery of weather information to the public and fostering a deeper connection between NWS and the people it serves. 

As a result, the SDE team strives to: 

  • Integrate interdisciplinary insights into NWS operations. 
  • Foster collaborative efforts across different scientific disciplines.
  • Ensure delivery of weather services are received and understood by the public. 
  • Enhance decision-making processes through better data utilization and communication. 

To fulfill this mission, the SDE team has outlined a set of strategic goals that drive their efforts forward. These goals not only reflect the core values of collaboration and communication, but also serve as a roadmap for addressing current challenges and opportunities in service delivery and evaluation of weather services.

Goals and Objectives 

The SDE team has identified three primary goals that guide its efforts. Each goal is supported by specific, actionable objectives that aim to address the identified challenges and opportunities. 

  1. Conduct evaluations to deliver NWS products and services to all communities.

  2. Establish a collaborative approach to define challenges and needs, as well as integrate interdisciplinary knowledge into NWS services. 

  3. Create a dynamic data strategy that advances research to inform decisions across the NWS.