Appendix B: Discontinued or Changed Performance
Outcomes/Objectives and Measures

Develop tools and capabilities that improve the productivity, quality, dissemination, and efficiency of research

Performance Outcome: Promote innovation, facilitate trade, and ensure public safety and security by strengthening the Nation’s measurements and standards infrastructure (NIST)
Corresponding Measure	Number of items calibrated
Change	Measure discontinued
Justification	Beginning in FY 2007 the number of items calibrated was revised to the number of calibration tests performed to better demonstrate the service output level provided by NIST.
Corresponding Measure	Number of calibration tests performed
Change	New measure
Justification	Beginning in FY 2007 the number of items calibrated was revised to the number of calibration tests performed to better demonstrate the service output level provided by NIST.
Corresponding Measure	Citation impact of NIST authored publications
Change	New measure
Justification	Citation analysis provides an independent and objective validation of peer review findings as research has shown that high citation rates correlate with peer review judgment in terms of scientific quality and relevance. NIST’s relative citation impact for the past 26 years (1981-2006) has been consistently above average. Final 2007 and 2008 data will be available in April 2008 and 2009 respectively.

Performance Outcome: Raise the productivity and competitiveness of small manufacturers (NIST)
Corresponding Measure	All four measures that appear in this outcome
Change	The phrase “MEP centers” is replaced by “Hollings MEP centers.” in each measure
Justification	The formal title of the program has been changed.

Performance Outcome: Enhance public access to worldwide scientific and technical information through improved acquisition and dissemination activities (NTIS)
Corresponding Measure	Number of new items available (annual)
Change	Measure reworded as “Number of updated items available (annual)”
Justification	The change in wording better reflects NTIS activities.
Corresponding Measure	Customer service
Change	Measure reworded as “Customer satisfaction”
Justification	The change in wording better reflects the method used to reflect the impact of NTIS activities.