[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 174 (Monday, September 9, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55084-55085]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-21807]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

National Institutes of Health


Proposed Collection; 60-day Comment Request; Data Collection To 
Understand How NIH Programs Apply Methodologies To Improve Their 
Research Programs (MIRP)

SUMMARY: In compliance with the requirement of Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of 
the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, for opportunity for public comment 
on proposed data collection projects, National Institute of Allergy and 
Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health (NIH), will publish 
periodic summaries of proposed projects to be submitted to the Office 
of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval.
    Written comments and/or suggestions from the public and affected 
agencies are invited on one or more of the following points: (1) 
Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the 
proper performance of the function of the agency, including whether the 
information will have practical utility; (2) The accuracy of the 
agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of 
information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions 
used; (3) Ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and (4) Ways to minimize the burden of the 
collection of information on those who are to respond, including the 
use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other 
technological collection techniques or other forms of information 
technology.
    To Submit Comments and for Further Information: To obtain a copy of 
the data collection plans and instruments, submit comments in writing, 
or request more information on the proposed project, contact: Ms. Dione 
Washington, Strategic Planning and Evaluation Branch, OSPIDA, NIAID, 
NIH, 6610 Rockledge Dr, Rm 2501 Bethesda, MD 20892-6620, or Email your 
request, including your address to [email protected]. Formal 
requests for additional plans and instruments must be requested in 
writing.
    Comment Due Date: Comments regarding this information collection 
are best assured of having their full effect if received within 60 days 
of the date of this publication.
    Proposed Collection: Data Collection to Understand How NIH Programs 
Apply Methodologies to Improve Their Research Programs (MIRP), 0925New, 
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), National 
Institutes of Health (NIH).
    Need and Use of Information Collection: In this submission, NIAID 
is requesting an OMB generic clearance for formative research 
activities relating to the collection of data to assist the Institute 
in understanding the usefulness of a range of methodologies that are 
employed to increase organizational effectiveness. The Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) and Office of Science and Technology Policy 
(OSTP) have instructed agencies to apply rigorous strategy management 
principles to ensure resources are directed at high-priority programs 
and avoid duplication of effort. A key aspect to ensuring resources 
dedicated to these programs are applied efficiently and effectively is 
to understand how NIH research programs apply methodologies to improve 
their organizational effectiveness. The degree of an organization's 
effectiveness is commonly recognized to be influenced by many factors. 
These can include the clarity of its purpose and strategy, how it 
allocates and structures its work, the processes used to carry out 
operations, the way technologies are used to support work, the people 
involved and their skills and abilities, the way relationships are 
managed with partners and stakeholders, and how leadership functions, 
particularly in terms of its ability to ensure that all the other 
components are aligned in supporting work towards the mission. Many 
methodologies are commonly employed in all sectors, including 
government, with the goal of increasing organizational effectiveness. 
Some examples of those used widely are strategic planning and strategy 
management, total quality management, change management, organizational 
assessment and intervention, organizational design, process 
improvement, leadership development, performance management, and 
workforce training and professional development, among others. There 
are many models and approaches to each of these methodologies. Each one 
can be implemented in a wide range of ways. Reflection on and learning 
from methodologies that have been used and the ways in which they have 
been employed is critical to continually ensuring that government 
functions effectively.
    The primary use for information gathered through voluntary survey 
pilot testing, surveys, focus groups, interviews, and collaborative 
data interpretation meetings to understand the use of strategy 
management in research programs supported by the NIH. The information 
will improve approaches to implementing strategic management, which 
will lead to more efficient use of resources. Results gathered in these 
data will be used to enhance implementation of methodologies to improve 
organizational effectiveness. The main goal of this information is to 
improve program outcomes and increase the efficiency of resource 
utilization. The knowledge gained from these collections will be used 
to strengthen

[[Page 55085]]

the planning, implementation, and monitoring of NIH research programs, 
as well as to strengthen strategy management in NIH research programs.
    The questions asked, and the data to be collected are rooted in 
established business-based paradigms but specifically adapted for use 
(and relevance) in a biomedical research environment, in order to 
discern: (1) Factors that enhance (or inhibit) organizational 
effectiveness in research programs; (2) utility and acceptance of these 
kinds of efforts among biomedical researchers and research 
stakeholders. The results from this formative research project will 
inform quality improvement activities in several areas, including goal 
setting, capability and resource evaluation, operational efficiency, 
and performance monitoring. Utilized data collection methodologies will 
be administered in a manner that minimizes public information 
collection burden. These include, but are not limited to, surveys, 
focus groups, and/or cognitive interviews. Separate and distinct 
generic clearances are requested to facilitate the efficiency of 
submission and review of these projects as required by the OMB Office 
of Information and Regulatory Affairs.
    OMB approval is requested for 3 years. There are no costs to 
respondents other than their time. The total estimated annualized 
burden hours are 4775.

                                                            Estimated Annualized Burden Hours
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                                              Average
                                                                                             Number of       Number of      burden per     Total annual
                   Form name                                Type of respondent              respondents    responses per   response (in     burden hour
                                                                                                            respondent        hours)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pilot Test.....................................  Science professional, researchers,                  900               1           45/60             675
                                                  institutional officials, network
                                                  leadership, program administrators,
                                                  and research site staff.
Survey.........................................                                                     2500               1           30/60            1250
Interview......................................                                                     1000               1           90/60            1500
Focus group....................................                                                      375               1            2/60             750
Data interpretation meeting with stakeholders..                                                      150               1            4/60             600
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    Dated: August 22, 2013.
John McGowan,
Executive Officer (EO), OD, NIAID, NIH.
[FR Doc. 2013-21807 Filed 9-6-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4140-01-P