Org. Health Blueprint Overview
The Blueprint articulates actions the NWS is taking to improve the organization's health - at every level!
NWS Strategic Plan, Goal: Evolve the NWS to excel in the face of change through investment in our people, partnerships, and organizational performance.
NWS Core Principle: Our people drive our success; we are dedicated to our science-based service to the Nation
OHB final linked.pdfA plan for improving the organizational health and culture of the National Weather Service. It follows on the success of the prior Organizational Health Action Plan and is the next iteration of this effort. The Blueprint articulates how the NWS will foster, support, and improve organizational health, which McKinsey and Co. defines as “the organization’s ability to align around a common vision, execute against that vision effectively, and renew itself through innovation and creative thinking.” The Blueprint is drawn from Organizational Health Index (OHI) survey results from 2020, focusing on areas for improvement based on scores down to the individual office level. It is a framework to improve the employee experience and sustain a highly motivated workforce who enjoy their work as part of their life.
Why does the NWS need an Org. Health Blueprint?
At the National Weather Service, we are aligned around a common mission to save lives and property and enhance the national economy. To sustain that strong service motivation and achieve even higher levels of organizational excellence, we have placed PEOPLE at the top of the priority list. By continually improving our organizational health and culture, we will continuously improve our mission performance.
Additional Support: Indeed recently published the 2022 Work Wellbeing Insights Report, which surveyed 5,000+ U.S. professionals to uncover what employees want from their employers and what companies can do to meet their needs. The 36-page document is full of wisdom on how employees are seeking better opportunities that enable greater well-being, and how agencies can foster environments where people can thrive. Check our the Wellable article here.
Blueprint Focus Areas
The Organizational Health Blueprint puts your feedback into action! Through both the McKinsey’s OHI (Organizational Health Index) and FEVS, several themes have been identified as areas for improvement. Based on these areas, the Blueprint will serve as a foundation for offices to build and foster a healthy work environment, with additional tools, such as a network and resources, to provide support and guidance across all levels.
Transparency & Openness
Employee Wellness & Development
Knowledge Sharing & Collaboration
Continuous Improvement & Harnessing Innovation
Blueprint Tools
As an agency we know the areas we want to address. However, what tools are available to help us explore and improve those areas as both an agency and within individual offices? Below are 4 tools that can be used to help improve transparency of HQ led initiatives, provide a support system for culture needs, host important resources and information to guide offices in the right direction, and a customized brief to walk everyone through the process.
Dashboard
Network
Toolkit
Custom Slide Deck Package
Blueprint In Action! (2023-2026)
By utilizing the Organizational Health Blueprint and the four tools, individual offices will be able to:
See HQ/Agency-wide progress on org. health and culture initiatives through the Dashboard
Connect with their respective Culture Lead within the Organizational Health Network
Use the Organizational Health Resources (through the Toolkit and Customized Slide Decks made for each office)
Use the 3 step process to see how it applies to your local office.
3 Step Process
Office Instructions
Under Step 3, there are 4 phases offices can follow that will help them evaluate their culture needs, select which focus areas to address in the years ahead, determine which practices they want to incorporate into their annual plan and assess their progress.
For more detailed instructions, please see the Blueprint Guide. To walk through Step 3 (using this 4 phase approach), visit each focus area page ( as linked above).
Blueprint Progress
Leadership Expectations
By FY24: All NWS offices will hold at least one discussion on the Blueprint with their entire staff (COMPLETE!)
In other words...all NWS offices will receive a Blueprint Briefing!
By the end of Q3 FY24: 100% of NWS offices have selected their two Organizational Health Focus Areas
By the end of Q4/FY24: 100% of NWS offices have defined specific milestones or practices that align with their selected Organizational Health Focus Areas, to influence FY25 planning.
To watch the progress of the Blueprint implementation, check out the Blueprint Dashboard here.
Future OHI Surveys
The OHI is conducted every 2-3 years with questions rooted in the same outcomes and practices, allowing NWS to measure progress
We understand that organizational health does not change overnight, and believe that measuring every 2-3 years will show progress best
In FY23 a new culture assessment (likely another OHI survey) will be deployed and administered
Based on this 2023 survey, the Blueprint will be modified to ensure the focus is on areas that need improvement
Blueprint References
Use this Blueprint Package to help your local offices utilize the Blueprint and associated tools to better foster and/or improve your office health and culture.
Developers
The Organizational Health Blueprint was developed by the OOE in partnership with a cross-agency Planning Team. This Planning Team consisted of approximately 40 employees from across the NWS, representing all levels and a wide variety of positions within the organization. Through this Planning Team, we have ensured employee engagement and feedback which served as the foundation for the Blueprint.
Graphics
Puzzle graphics illustrated throughout the Blueprint, these pages and presentations were generated utilizing SlidesGo.