CSREES Reporting Web Conference December 11, 2008

questions to 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)

questions to User Support (202) or Do not contact Texas A&M support FAQs and other information on the CSREES Reporting Web Conference web page at

questions to Format and Logistics questions to topic suggestions to Conferences are recorded and will be available on the Reporting Web Conference web page at

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A National View on Accountability

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

questions to Making the most efficient and effective use of taxpayer funds to achieve desired results What is Accountability? From the Federal Perspective:

questions to 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.

questions to 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

questions to Current Initiative President’s Management Agenda (PMA) Performance Improvement Budget Performance Integration Program Assessment Rating Tool (PART) Improving Financial Performance Results.gov ExpectMore.gov

questions to Budget-Performance Cycle Partners’ Plans & Results ProjectsFormula ProposalsPlans of Work Progress Reports Annual Report Portfolio Assessment Internal Self-Assessment (Annual) Portfolio Review Expert Panel (PREP) (Every 5 Years) OMB Assessment Program Assessment Rating Tool (PART) (Every 5 Years) CSREES Strategic & Budget Planning Guidance: Portfolio Assessments Stakeholder Input Administration Congress Performance-Based Budget Request Proposals for Increases Impacts Performance Measures PART results

questions to So why isn’t this reform initiative going to pass the way of the others?

questions to Government Performance and Results Act (1993) Strategic Plans Annual Performance Plans and Reports Bipartisan, Congressional and Administration Support Fifteen years and still going…

questions to 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

questions to The times, they are a-changin’! Another Bob Still not convinced?

questions to

Source: Government Accountability Office

USDA CSREES & ARS National Debt Discretionary Budget

questions to 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.

questions to 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

questions to 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….!

questions to So how do we combine defense and opportunity?

questions to 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

questions to 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

questions to 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

questions to Some thoughts Connected to Stakeholders Effective and Efficient Use of Funds Financial Transparency and Accountability

questions to Questions? questions to CSREES Strategic Planning and Accountability web pages under About Us on CSREES web site

questions to 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)

questions to 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)

The National Program Leader Perspective

questions to 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

questions to 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. How NPLs Use Information

questions to 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. portfolio.html#table portfolio.html#table

questions to Other Examples Secretary Congress OMB PART Federal Committees/Task Forces Quarterly Report to the Partnership CSREES Update Media/Communications Office

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 NPL Duties in a nut shell

questions to 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

questions to Process-to-product continuum Stakeholder CSREES Partners Knowledge Education outreach Leadership Process Translation Entities Product- Public Good

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

questions to Attribution is difficult! Consumer CSREES ARS FSIS FDA REE Partners Public Health Depts. Farmprocess Transport Retail package HomeInstitutions Production System REE and Regulation

questions to Questions? questions to

questions to See you in February!!! Next CSREES Reporting Web Conference will be on Thursday, February 12 from 2-4 pm (Eastern) State Best Practices Panel topic suggestions to Visit the conference web site at for: The recording of this conference The slides from this conference Announcements