Case Study on organizational managementof National Centre for Hydrology and

Meteorology and its performance against its organizational objectives

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Karma Sangay, Yeshi Pelden, Anu Rai, Anupa Rai, Rigsel Wangmo Dorji

Abstract

One of today’s uprising issues is the fight about cost incurred by climate change. Excessive use
of automobiles and fossil fuels have contributed to incremental greenhouse gases resulting in
frequent natural disasters, higher average temperature and complicated weather predictions. The
National Centre for Hydrology and Meteorology (NCHM) is responsible for studying,
monitoring, operating and disseminating information on cryosphere, hydrological database and
numerical weather forecast. The study divulged organizational development of
hydrometeorology in Bhutan along with the challenges faced. The study recommends integrated
and coupled monitoring and interactions within the centre and procurement of necessary
instruments for calibration.

Key Words: Cryosphere, Meteorology, Qualitative Data, Hydrology, Prosumer

Introduction

NCHM was established in 2016 as an autonomous scientific and technical organization for
understanding the behaviors of the atmosphere, its interaction with cryospheres, water bodies and
the distribution of the country’s water resources. It is also the national focal point of international
scientific organizations such as World Meteorological Organization and International Panel for
Climate Change.
As per the Agencification Framework for Civil Services, NCHM has a Governing Board
that provides policy direction for overall governance and organizational management. It
comprises Secretariat for National Environment Commission as the Chairperson; Director of
NCHM as Member Secretary and five members from various Ministries.
Four Divisions of NCHM is headed by Chiefs that comprises, Chief of Hydro-met
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Karma Sangay, Yeshi Pelden, Anu Rai, Anupa Rai, Rigsel Wangmo Dorj

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Operation and Infrastructure Division; Chief of Cryosphere Services Division, Chief of Weather
and Climate Services Division and Chief of Hydrology and Water Resources Services Division.
Each division consists of engineers, geologists, meteorologists, hydrologists, glaciologists, and
technicians.

Figure 1 Organogram of NCHM

Methodology

The first-party data on organizational performance was garnered by using semi-structured

interview questionnaires about the centre’s chronology of organizational development, service
provision, projects and possible challenges faced in NCHM divisions. The physical survey was
conducted in Thimphu on September 19th 2022. Informal face to face conversations with the
staffs were also beneficial in providing raw and unfiltered data.

Apart from qualitative data, quantitative data were also collected from the technicians and
statistical workers. The quantitative parameters consisted of relative humidity, precipitation,
wind speed, atmospheric pressure and temperature. We were guided to calibrate and analyze the
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variables in a general and comprehensive mode. However, they still have important parameter
data lacking such as land surface temperature which is essential in learning the patterns about
solar radiation’s effect on the ecosystem.

Observations on managerial activities were also done by the group members in the centre.
All the staffs and technicians working in the institution have their specific responsibility assigned
under each consecutive divisions. Additionally, observations on cohesiveness within the team
members of the same section unit and the meteorological functions conducted were made

Results and Discussion

It is worth noting that organizational effectiveness cannot be achieved, rather it is a “cycle of

recurring initiatives” that makes an organization efficient in which behavior must be learned and
baked into the day-to-day functioning and ongoing evaluation of the organization’s goals
(Maloney, 2019). The department’s ability to conduct comprehensive and innovative projects
and collaborated works which helps in sustaining the livelihoods of Bhutanese are the recurring
initiatives that effectively pushes the organization to attain its mandates and objectives. Projects
like capacity enhancement of meteorological observations for disaster preparedness in Chamkhar
Chhu and Mangde Chhu has created a disaster resilient society against weather induced disasters
(Tamang, 2020).

Their main challenge lies in spreading public awareness as they are striving to achieve
renewable energy and majority of the people are still not aware of the stars on the electronics that
represent their energy efficiency. Major energy consumption in Bhutan is contributed by
Hydropower projects and hydrometeorological statistics have been calibrated and future has been
foreseen if it thrives in this continuity. Staffs and section heads worries lie in advocating the
citizens about the devastating outcomes of not being energy resilient.

Government has taken reformation plans and according to the director, some departments
will be merged with other departments even though their mandates are completely different from
one another. The prosumer (consumers that are also producers) director working in Department

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of Renewable Energy has now been positioned as the director of geology and mine which is
irreconcilable to that of green energy. Alongside, many young energetic workers are now
immigrating to Australia and this will ultimately create an ineffectual organization.

Organizations with matrix organizational structure usually face impediments in overlapping

teams and communication gap between the different sections as many personnel are involved in
the department (Polliack, 2022). However, NCHM has recruited staffs with interactive people in
the institution as it was observed that projects from one section is well known to other
departments as well.
NCHM is a nodal agency that is responsible for generation of high-quality information and
delivery of products and services on hazard managements, aviation meteorological services and
climate change information and services. Thus, importance must be given to the information
disseminated by the centre as NCHM caters the need to the citizens in protecting the lives and
properties.

Conclusion and Recommendation

This case study unveils the predicaments behind the scene in NCHM and despite many recurring
initiatives towards greener life, organizations are bound to face the expected sequence of the
lifecycle phases in organization. As a piece of recommendation, this study would suggest the
centre to initiate a advocacy programs based on target segmentations whereby they will be able
to create awareness of their innovations in relevant platforms.

They should collaborate and hold a forum discussion with the relevant policymakers in our
country and implement laws based on their authentic data and through these implementations,
the households can be encourages to minimize their carbon emissions.

As aforementioned, no significant issues against the organization’s objectives have been

descried. NRHM lies as an exemplary organization with effective and interactive workforce.

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Reference

Maloney, D. (2019, July 17). Organizational effectiveness: the X factor for company success.
Retrieved from Slack: http://slack.com/blog/transformational/organizational-effectiveness-
company-success
Polliack, B. (2022, June 1). 6 Advantages and disavantages of all the matrix organizational
structure. Retrieved from Charleshub:
http://www.charthop.com/resoucres/blog/org-chart/advantages-disadvantages-matrix-org-
structure/
Tamang, T. B. (2020). JICA TCP Phase II Project. Retrieved from National Centre for
Hydrology and Meteorology : http://www.nchm.gov.bt/home/pageMenu/795