CSREES Reporting Web Conference

1. CSREES Reporting Web Conference December 11, 2008

2. Bob MacDonald Bob is Director of the Office of Planning and Accountability which provides leadership to the agency in strategic planning, performance measurement, and evaluation.  These activities are used by the agency to improve program leadership and management, allocation of resources, and evaluation of success. (202) 720-5623 rmacdonald@csrees.usda.gov www.csrees.usda.gov/opa E-mail questions to rwc@csrees.usda.gov

3. User Support • (202) 690-2910 orservicedesk@csrees.usda.gov • Do not contact Texas A&M support • FAQs and other information on the CSREES Reporting Web Conference web page at www.csrees.usda.gov/rwc E-mail questions to rwc@csrees.usda.gov

4. Format and Logistics E-mail questions to rwc@csrees.usda.gov E-mail topic suggestions to rwc@csrees.usda.gov Conferences are recorded and will be available on the Reporting Web Conference web page at www.csrees.usda.gov/rwc E-mail questions to rwc@csrees.usda.gov E-mail questions to rwc@csrees.usda.gov

5. To Receive Announcements An RWC e-mail list will notify interested parties on news, schedules, and other issues relating to the series. To subscribe: • Send an e-mail to lyris@lyris.csrees.usda.gov. • Skip your subject line and in the body of your message type: subscribe reportingwc.  • Be sure you receive an e-mail confirming your subscription. E-mail questions to rwc@csrees.usda.gov

6. A National View on Accountability

7. “Accountability is reporting” How people define accountability. The Oz Principle, p. 177 Conners, Smith, and Hickman, 2004

8. What is Accountability?From the Federal Perspective: Making the most efficient and effective use of taxpayer funds to achieve desired results E-mail questions to rwc@csrees.usda.gov

9. Often Heard…. • It’s just a fad. • I can’t wait until the next administration – this too will pass. • It’s a check the box exercise. E-mail questions to rwc@csrees.usda.gov

10. Historical Performance Management/Reform Activities • Planning-Programming–Budgeting System (Johnson) • Management by Objectives (Nixon) • Zero Base Budgeting (Carter) • Grace Commission (Reagan) • National Performance Review (Clinton) Source: USDA Office of Budget & Program Analysis E-mail questions to rwc@csrees.usda.gov

11. Current Initiative • President’s Management Agenda (PMA) • Performance Improvement • Budget Performance Integration • Program Assessment Rating Tool (PART) • Improving Financial Performance • Results.gov • ExpectMore.gov E-mail questions to rwc@csrees.usda.gov

14. Budget-Performance Cycle E-mail questions to rwc@csrees.usda.gov

15. So why isn’t this reform initiative going to pass the way of the others? E-mail questions to rwc@csrees.usda.gov

16. Government Performance and Results Act (1993) • Strategic Plans • Annual Performance Plans and Reports • Bipartisan, Congressional and Administration Support • Fifteen years and still going… E-mail questions to rwc@csrees.usda.gov

17. E.O. Improving Government Performance (2007) • Creates Agency Performance Improvement Officers, who must (in part): • Oversee development of agency strategic plans and annual performance plans and reports (GPRA) • Assess performance of each program administered in whole or in part by the agency and consider means to improve their performance and efficiency • Tie to individual performance appraisals • Links to GPRA and institutionalizes Performance Improvement (formerly called Budget Performance Integration) initiative of PMA E-mail questions to rwc@csrees.usda.gov

18. Still not convinced? The times, they are a-changin’! Another Bob - 1964 E-mail questions to rwc@csrees.usda.gov

19. E-mail questions to rwc@csrees.usda.gov

20. Source: Government Accountability Office E-mail questions to rwc@csrees.usda.gov

21. USDA CSREES & ARS National Debt Discretionary Budget

24. Accountability is not reporting! It’s defense – ensuring that we will continue to have the funds we need and making best use of the funds we have. E-mail questions to rwc@csrees.usda.gov

25. There is also Opportunity! “As experts have been warning for years, the cost of growing rice -- thanks to much higher fuel and fertilizer prices -- has been rising faster than the price paid by consumers. At the same time, yields on rice farms have leveled off, as spending on agricultural research has declined. And consumption of imported rice has increased sharply, especially in Africa.” The Washington Post – Front Page – April 12, 2008 E-mail questions to rwc@csrees.usda.gov

26. There is also Opportunity! • National Priority on Energy • USDA Energy Research, Education, and Extension Strategic Plan • Sustainable agriculture and natural resource-based energy production • Sustainable bioeconomies for rural communities • Efficient use of energy and energy conservation • Workforce development for the bioeconomy • And more….! E-mail questions to rwc@csrees.usda.gov

27. So how do we combine defense and opportunity? E-mail questions to rwc@csrees.usda.gov

28. Some thoughts • Federal $ – National Issues – National Impact • Actions may be local, but plans and results must tell a national story • Outcome-Based • Must be seen as problem-focused on a few key issues • We can defend action plans that document anticipated outcomes • We must communicate results instead of activities E-mail questions to rwc@csrees.usda.gov

29. Definitions • Activity – What we do – an action that is taking place • Active voice – CSREES-funded scientists are working on a solution • Events, conferences, workshops • Outcome – a change in knowledge, action, or condition • Past tense • Impact – outcomes that are changes in action or condition E-mail questions to rwc@csrees.usda.gov

30. Public Value? • Public value is the value of a program to those who do not directly benefit from the program • The public sector provides informationthat allows consumers and producers to make better choices. • The public sector addresses a crucial concern about fairness. • Consumers or producers create benefits for others or impose costs on others. Laura Kalambokidis, University of Minnesota Extension E-mail questions to rwc@csrees.usda.gov

31. Some thoughts • Connected to Stakeholders • Effective and Efficient Use of Funds • Financial Transparency and Accountability E-mail questions to rwc@csrees.usda.gov

32. Questions? • E-mail questions to rwc@csrees.usda.gov • CSREES Strategic Planning and Accountability web pages under About Us on CSREES web site http://www.csrees.usda.gov/about/strat_plan.html E-mail questions to rwc@csrees.usda.gov

33. Caroline Crocoll Caroline provides national leadership for the Family Science Research and Extension Program, with a particular emphasis on building multi-state partnerships to strengthen families and enhance quality of life; national priority areas of this program include strengthening family relationships, fostering healthy child development, addressing emerging issues in adult development and aging, and special projects warranting federal attention. (202) 720-4795 ccrocoll@csrees.usda.gov E-mail questions to rwc@csrees.usda.gov

34. Ramkishan Rao Ram provides leadership in identifying emerging issues of national importance, program reviews, and grants management in the area of food science; provides linkage in the partnership between the Land-Grant universities and CSREES in food science and develops budgets and policies for food science. (202) 401-6010 rrao@csrees.usda.gov E-mail questions to rwc@csrees.usda.gov

35. The National Program Leader Perspective

36. Role of the NPL • Network and collaborate with partners and stakeholders • Conceive, formulate, and direct programs and activities • Administer and manage programs and activities to develop and apply science and knowledge; and, • Evaluate and assess the quality, outcomes, and impacts of these programs. • Emphasis Areas E-mail questions to rwc@csrees.usda.gov

37. How NPLs Use Information • NPLs are assigned as agency liaisons to specific states and review state POWs and ARs each year. • NPLs mine data from POWs and ARs and use this information to respond, dialogue with, and inform potential partners and decision makers about critical needs and issues. • NPLs review ARs throughout the year and identify key changes in the nation’s knowledge, action, or condition of national significance. E-mail questions to rwc@csrees.usda.gov

38. NPLs and agency staff also use state outcomes to plan and assess our portfolios of programs to ensure that our programs achieve the intended results and that we make the most effective use of the funds the agency receives. • http://www.csrees.usda.gov/about/strat_plan_portfolio.html#table E-mail questions to rwc@csrees.usda.gov

39. Other Examples • Secretary • Congress • OMB www.whitehouse.gov/omb/organization/index.html • PART http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/part/ • http://pow.csrees.usda.gov/Outcomes.htm. • Federal Committees/Task Forces • Quarterly Report to the Partnership • CSREES Update • Media/Communications Office E-mail questions to rwc@csrees.usda.gov

40. NPL Duties in a nut shell • Provide Leadership to identify, develop, and manage programs to support university-based and other institutional research, education, and extension activities. • 2. Provide Fair, effective, and efficient administration of Federal assistance in implementing research, education, and extension awards and agreements. • 3. Collect and collate data on the outcomes and impacts of the REE activities supported by the Agency

41. How do I view my accountability? FAIR, efficient, and effective administration of grants…….. PROCESS-BASED Accountability Leadership to identify, develop and manage programs that could lead to: PRODUCT-BASED Accountability Assessment of the portfilios E-mail questions to rwc@csrees.usda.gov

42. Process-to-product continuum Leadership Stakeholder Product- Public Good CSREES Translation Entities Process Knowledge Education outreach Partners E-mail questions to rwc@csrees.usda.gov

43. How far the accountability of NPL goes in the Cycle: An example Listeriosis is an issue Stakeholder Leadership Product Reduction In Listeriosis CSREES Funds REE activities to Reduce levels of Listeria in foods Translation Entities Develop procedures to reduce levels of Listeria in foods and communicate Knowledge Education Outreach Process Partners Conduct REE ‘Activities’ E-mail questions to rwc@csrees.usda.gov

44. Attribution is difficult! Production System REE and Regulation ARS Transport Farm process FSIS FDA CSREES package Retail REE Partners Public Health Depts. Home Institutions Consumer E-mail questions to rwc@csrees.usda.gov

45. Questions? • E-mail questions to rwc@csrees.usda.gov E-mail questions to rwc@csrees.usda.gov

46. See you in February!!! • Next CSREES Reporting Web Conference will be on Thursday, February 12 from 2-4 pm (Eastern) • State Best Practices Panel • E-mail topic suggestions to rwc@csrees.usda.gov • Visit the conference web site at www.csrees.usda.gov/rwc for: • The recording of this conference • The slides from this conference • Announcements E-mail questions to rwc@csrees.usda.gov