Interoperability Principles Checklist

This checklist is used by VA programs, contracting, developers, and vendors, to verify they adhere to VA’s Interoperability Principles.

Mission Driven

Does the solution align with VA’s mission and strategic objectives inform, focus, and drive priorities and decisions?

Mission Driven Checklist
Checklist Item	Answer
The solution aligns with VA’s mission.	Yes or No

Ethically Grounded

Does the solution promote ethically strong practices relating to business, data, and engineering by infusing the culture with I CARE values and VA’s Ethics Principles?

Ethically Grounded Checklist
Checklist Item	Answer
The solution promotes VA’s core I CARE values: Integrity, Commitment, Advocacy, Respect, and Excellence.	Yes or No
The solution aligns with VA’s Ethics Principles for access and use of Veteran data (examples such as healthcare data, benefits data, etc.).	Yes or No
The solution aligns with VA’s Privacy Principles.	Yes or No

Human Centered

Does the solution ensure human usability based on VA’s Human-centered design (PDF, 1.3MB, 18-pages) and product management goals?

Human Centered Checklist
Checklist Item	Answer
The solution is effective in that users can achieve their goals accurately, completely, and safely.	Yes or No
The solution is efficient in that minimal time and effort is required by system users to achieve their goals.	Yes or No
The solution is satisfying to users in that they have positive experiences using the system to achieve their goals.	Yes or No
The solution is accessible and Section 508 compliant.	Yes or No

Trustworthy

Does the solution safeguard information and assure quality (PDF, 274KB, 24-pages), management, confidentiality, and integrity of business, data and information, and systems and technology during all phases of interoperability?

Trustworthy Checklist
Checklist Item	Answer
The solution is compliant with all applicable data use agreements.	Yes or No
The solution provides a secure system with appropriate user access controls, risk frameworks, and security monitoring and mitigation strategy required by all stakeholders.	Yes or No
The solution considers data quality, provenance, and pedigree in the design, implementation, and surveillance monitoring of data exchanges and processes to ensure the right data is available in the right location to the right user at the right time.	Yes or No
The solution supports fair and accountable business processes.	Yes or No

Transparent and Collaborative

Does the solution engage stakeholders across business, data and information, and systems and technology to achieve interoperability in a transparent and collaborative manner?

Transparent and Collaborative Checklist
Checklist Item	Answer
The solution incorporates and engages stakeholders appropriately in the process to achieve interoperability.	Yes or No
The solution is transparent regarding policies, data use agreements, and risks mitigated.	Yes or No
The solution offers training and testing that is comprehensive and appropriately engaging for stakeholders.	Yes or No
The solution has processes in place that promotes transparency and collaboration regarding decisions, acquisitions, and changes.	Yes or No

Standards-based

Does the solution leverage internal standards and external standards to accelerate interoperability for business, data, information systems, and technology?

Standards-based Checklist
Checklist Item	Answer
Data, terminology, and syntax standards were applied where appropriate.	Yes or No
Privacy, security, and identity and access management standards were met.	Yes or No
Interface and data exchange standards were met.	Yes or No
Processes and workflows are standards-based.	Yes or No

Culture of Learning and Innovation

Does the solution foster a culture of learning and innovation to address interoperability barriers, improve outcomes, and mitigate unintended consequences?

Culture of Learning and Innovation Checklist
Checklist Item	Answer
Effective governance, change management, and strategies are in place to support innovation and learning that addresses interoperability barriers, the improvement of outcomes, and risk management.	Yes or No
Effective methods and metrics are in place to evaluate outcomes and processes that support innovation.	Yes or No
The solution supports the recognition to leverage scalable innovations using metrics, best practices, and experiences.	Yes or No
The solution supports a culture of learning based on metrics, best practices, and experiences.	Yes or No

Composability

Does this solution incorporate composable thinking, business architectures, and technologies to harness the power of adaptability, modularity and extensibility, discovery, autonomy, and orchestration and effectively control emergent behavior?

Composability Checklist
Checklist Item	Answer
The solution incorporates repeatable global activities where appropriate.	Yes or No
The solution incorporates and leverages reusable code where appropriate.	Yes or No
The solution incorporates and leverages consistent concept definitions where appropriate.	Yes or No
The solution applies composable policies, memorandums of understanding, including interagency agreements, and other applicable agreements where appropriate.	Yes or No

For questions or additional information on interoperability please contact us:

Helga.Rippen@va.gov
Gaurav.Mathur@va.gov
Gita.Uppal@va.gov

Download the Checklist (DOCX, 139KB, 4-pages)