CSREES Reporting
Web Conference
December 11, 2008
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
User Support
(202) 690-2910 or
servicedesk@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
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
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
A National View on
Accountability
“Accountability is reporting”
How people define accountability.
The Oz Principle, p. 177
Conners, Smith, and Hickman, 2004
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
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
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
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
Budget-Performance Cycle
Performance-Based Budget Request
Proposals for Increases Performance Measures
Impacts PART results
CSREES Strategic & Partners‟ Plans & Results
Budget Planning
Projects Formula
Guidance:
Portfolio Assessments Proposals Plans of Work
Stakeholder Input
Administration Progress Annual Report
Congress Reports
OMB Assessment
Program Assessment Portfolio Assessment
Rating Tool (PART) Internal Self-Assessment Portfolio Review Expert
(Every 5 Years) (Annual) Panel (PREP)
(Every 5 Years)
E-mail questions to rwc@csrees.usda.gov
So why isn‟t this reform initiative
going to pass the way of the
others?
E-mail questions to rwc@csrees.usda.gov
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
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
Still not convinced?
The times, they are a-changin‟!
Another Bob - 1964
E-mail questions to rwc@csrees.usda.gov
E-mail questions to rwc@csrees.usda.gov
Source: Government Accountability Office
E-mail questions to rwc@csrees.usda.gov
USDA CSREES & ARS
National Debt Discretionary Budget
19
0
200
400
600
800
1000
1200
1400
64
19
66
19
68
19
70
19
72
19
74
R&E
19
76
19
78
19
80
Extension
19
82
19
84
19
Integrated
86
19
88
19
2501
90
CSREES Budget ($M)
19
92
19
IFAFS
94
19
96
19
SCRI
98
20
00
20
Total
02
20
04
20
06
20
08
CSREES Budget 2008 $ ($M)
1,600
1,400
1,200
1,000
800
600
400
200
0
64
66
68
70
72
74
76
78
80
82
84
86
88
90
92
94
96
98
00
02
04
06
08
19
19
19
19
19
19
19
19
19
19
19
19
19
19
19
19
19
19
20
20
20
20
20
R&E Extension Integrated 2501 IFAFS SCRI Total
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
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
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
So how do we combine defense
and opportunity?
E-mail questions to rwc@csrees.usda.gov
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
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
Public Value?
Public value is the value of a program to those who
do not directly benefit from the program
The public sector provides information that 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
Some thoughts
Connected to Stakeholders
Effective and Efficient Use of Funds
Financial Transparency and Accountability
E-mail questions to rwc@csrees.usda.gov
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
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
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
The National Program
Leader Perspective
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
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
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
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
NPL Duties in a nut shell
1. 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
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
Process-to-product continuum
Stakeholder
Product-
Public Good Leadership
Translation CSREES
Entities
Knowledge
Education Process
outreach Partners
E-mail questions to rwc@csrees.usda.gov
How far the accountability of NPL
goes in the Cycle: An example
Stakeholder Listeriosis is an issue
Product
Leadership
Reduction
In Listeriosis
CSREES
Translation Funds REE activities to
Entities
Develop Reduce levels of
procedures Listeria in foods
Knowledge
to reduce Education Process
levels of Outreach Partners
Listeria in foods and Conduct REE
communicate „Activities‟
E-mail questions to rwc@csrees.usda.gov
Attribution is difficult!
REE and Regulation Production System
ARS Farm Transport process
FSIS
CSREES FDA
Retail package
Public
REE
Health
Partners Home Institutions
Depts.
Consumer
E-mail questions to rwc@csrees.usda.gov
Questions?
E-mail questions to rwc@csrees.usda.gov
E-mail questions to rwc@csrees.usda.gov
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