Chapter 1 – Introduction – Who Should Use the BOM

CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION
Benefits of the BOM

»Provides clear guidelines of NOAA’s business practices

»Serves as a reference for both internal and external stakeholders

»Promotes consistent outcomes through standardized processes

This Business Operations Manual (BOM) is designed to provide an understanding of the organization and decisionmaking processes of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The BOM is a living document, updated at least once annually, to remain current with organizational changes and business processes.

1.0 – Who Should Use the BOM

The BOM is written for new employees and team members who wish to strengthen their understanding of NOAA’s management functions and organizational and strategic structures. The manual provides up-to-date guidelines for aligning business operations with the agency’s strategic vision. The BOM is not intended to provide detailed instruction on any one topic. Rather, it provides general information to improve overall understanding of how NOAA operates and a guide to the appropriate source for additional information on specific topics. As the business of doing business is complex in any organization, the BOM aims to provide a user friendly foundation and context for understanding NOAA’s business processes.