Appraisal Methodology
Appendix A: Functions Description

A. Assuring Institutional Continuity

Covers such areas as governance and institutional management that sustain the Smithsonian.

1. Policy and Financial Management
   Addresses activities at the highest level with the broadest scope, such as institutional governance, direction and planning; policy development and creation; budget formulation, advocacy and execution; and asset growth, insurance, maintenance and allocation.

2. Human Resources
   Addresses those activities which document personnel management at the highest Smithsonian decision-making levels, including recruitment; employment; personnel actions; benefits; and employee health and safety.

3. Facilities Management and Safety
   Addresses activities concerning the maintenance, management and security of all Smithsonian physical properties and collections, and the security of personnel and visitors, including property construction, maintenance and renovation; property and inventory management; disaster planning; broad security activities, including preventing theft, fire and property damage, and ensuring employee and visitor safety; planning and decision-making for construction and renovation; and compliance with appropriate regulations and statutes.

4. Public Programs and Development
   Addresses all those activities the Smithsonian undertakes which are aimed at communicating information about the Institution, as well as soliciting support for the development and enhancement of Smithsonian programs, including Smithsonian-wide activities (oversight of policy development and program initiatives for public programs and development; coordination of all contacts with print and broadcast media; press response to the Smithsonian; Smithsonian campus-wide communications and campus-wide staff organizational groups and activities; dissemination of general information to the public; generating visitor statistics; fund-raising planning, coordination and analysis; membership recruitment and benefits; and major events of institution-wide significance), and unit-level activities (planning, development and analysis of public programs and development initiatives; unit-level communications with and publication for selected constituencies; significant special events organized and hosted at the unit level; monitoring and analyzing public response to significant public programs; and dissemination of unit information for print and broadcast media.)

5. Institutional Information Management
   Addresses those activities to develop and manage Smithsonian records, information technology, and information services and resources, including planning, development and execution of significant information technology systems, programs and special projects; program development and management of temporary and permanent Smithsonian records; and policy creation and management of significant information services to Smithsonian staff for the purpose of institutional continuity.

6. Legal Management
   Addresses activities in which the legal status, rights, obligations, procedures and concerns of the Smithsonian Institution are formulated and implemented, including policy development and planning regarding the institution's legal status, rights, obligations, procedures, and concerns; litigation of cases on behalf of the Smithsonian; contract negotiation and formulation; donation of properties and assets via gifts, bequests, deeds, wills, and estates; development of SI projects, programs, policies or other initiatives requiring legal expertise and input; discontinuance of SI programs, bureaus, museums or other initiatives requiring legal expertise and input; the securing of or infringement against SI in cases of copyrights, trademarks, licenses and patents; and defense of SI against charges of discrimination in hiring and employment practices.

7. Institutional Assessment
   Addresses activities carried out to evaluate the degree to which Smithsonian offices do, or do not, perform mandated functions in accordance with statutory or regulatory requirements, Smithsonian policy statements, and, where applicable, best practice as defined by relevant professional groups, including audits of operations of Smithsonian bureaus and offices for conformity to relevant institutional requirements; and assessments of Smithsonian programs performed by outside professional groups to determine how well their activities reflect best professional practice in a field or discipline.

B. Acquiring and Maintaining the National Collections

Covers the development, management, care and preservation of the National Collections, which include the holdings of Smithsonian Institution museums, libraries, and archives.

1. Acquisition, Loan and Disposition of Collections
   Addresses those activities concerning the development, revision, and implementation of collecting policies; the acquisition of permanent collections through donation, purchase, or exchange; the loan of collections; the deaccession of collections; and the maintenance of legal custody over permanent collections.

2. Conservation and Preservation of Collections
   Addresses activities concerned with the physical care of collections.

3. Intellectual Control of Collections
   Addresses activities to catalog, classify, arrange, and describe collections.

C. Conducting and Supporting Original Research

Covers research conducted by Smithsonian staff, including fellows, and the funding, support and evaluation of that research.

1. Research
   Addresses activities involved with the conduct of original research.

2. Support and Funding for Research
   Addresses activities to seek, manage and monitor support and funding for research, through various sources, including central Smithsonian or Smithsonian bureau-level resources and programs; internal and external grants; and contracts.

3. Evaluation or Review of Research
   Addresses activities to evaluate research work from within the Smithsonian Institution. External evaluations will not fall within the SIA appraisal policies.

D. Diffusing Knowledge

Covers exhibitions, productions and events created using Smithsonian resources for the purpose of educating, entertaining, or instructing the Smithsonian's diverse audiences.

1. Exhibitions
   Addresses activities concerning conceptualization, planning, funding, execution and evaluation of exhibitions.

2. Productions
   Addresses activities concerning conceptualization, planning, and funding, of productions, including print, electronic and broadcast media. SIA will seek to collect designated series of core productions, and others as opportunity permits.

3. Events
   Addresses activities concerning conceptualization, planning, funding, and execution of events, including educational courses and tours, symposia and seminars, festivals, lectures and performances.

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