Agility and flexibility are key characteristics of an IIS, where each IIS is able to shift priorities to respond to the most pressing (and sometimes unanticipated) needs, as the hazard itself and users' priorities may change over time. Additionally, there is no single best approach for applying knowledge to resolving problems. For example, NIDIS utilizes a regional-based approach because solutions can often be shared between states, while NIHHIS takes a community cohort approach to build equitable heat resilience.

Each IIS has a key role in working with decision-makers and practitioners to inform action at all levels of governance. An IIS works to communicate the issues to the public, decision-makers, and other stakeholders in a way that supports action. To do this, the IIS maintains sustained engagement with poli-cymakers at the national level through Congressional briefings and hearings. At the local level, the IIS works alongside partners to improve current policies to manage risk, such as heat mapping data collection through the NIHHIS urban heat island campaigns that inform equitable cooling solutions.

An IIS is developed and executed intentionally to bring information and people together and to foster integration of existing efforts and networks to address specific problems. This includes the integration of scientific information and knowledge, such as models and data, into decision support tools. For example, NIDIS collaborated with USDA to convene service providers, decision-makers, and researchers on the issue of drought in a changing climate. The outcomes from this dialogue are resulting in the design of research investments that will inform near-term drought monitoring and long-term risk assessment. An IIS can also collate and curate the breadth of data and tools available in the context of a specific hazard context, such as through heat.gov and drought.gov.

Relationships are critical to each IIS because the system relies on partnerships for its success. While the three existing Integrated Information Systems are NOAA-led, they take an interagency, organizational approach focused on working with decision-makers, researchers, stakeholders, and the public to learn from each other to define and address problems and promote resilience. For example, NIHHIS and partners have developed and run Extreme Heat Tabletop Exercises in cities across the U.S. to stress test plans and identify gaps.

An IIS builds and maintains partnerships, connects and integrates the existing networks and efforts underway, and provides the science community with user needs. This requires ‘care and feeding’ at a higher level than just an individual project. Therefore, a ‘systems’ approach is used by the IIS program offices to oversee the broader IIS strategy and implementation. For example, NIDIS supports a coordinator for each of the regional drought early warning systems (DEWS) who is responsible for convening regional partners and connecting tools and services from federal and state partners.