Facilitating use of analytic methods at a federal agency

Identification and application of appropriate analytic methods are critical pieces of the foundation of science. Because of the increasingly complex i ssues federal agencies face and the increasing importance of addressing tho se issues with multi-disciplinary teams that offer knowledge and skills in many methods areas, it is important that agencies faster coordinated integr ation of analytic methods. This report discusses the Centers for Disease Co ntrol and Prevention's (CDC's) evolving needs regarding analytic methods an d includes activities that CDC has undertaken to facilitate a coordinated a pproach to the use of the statistical sciences. We introduce a new framewor k for facilitating coordination in analytic methods as a hybrid model, blen ding attributes of centralized and decentralized resource models. This coor dinating focus approach offers assets of timeliness, efficiency, and effect iveness, as well as fosters strengthened relationships among scientists and increased collaboration among scientific disciplines.