Measuring and Communicating Results
Performance measures are a useful tool to help us understand if we are achieving our modernization goals. We selected 2016 as the baseline year because modernization efforts began in 2017. We will use performance information (at least annually and as part of an important benchmark in the second quarter of FY2021) to make adjustments to modernization efforts if we are not realizing effective progress.
The FPM team will work with specialists in organizational performance management and others in FY2019 to refine and improve this initial set of contextual indicators and performance measures to ensure we have adequately reflected outputs compared to desired outcomes, linkages to other NFS modernization efforts, and how best to diagnose and explore reasons for trends over time, whether up or down.
Table 3: Forest Products Modernization Performance Measures
| Goal Statement | Measure or Indicator1 | 2016 Baseline | 2023 Goal |
2018 Data (% change from baseline) |
| People | ||||
| Improve well-being for employees involved in the timber sale process | Qualitative sensing to gather employee perceptions of shifts in workload, level of leadership support, innovation implementation, and increased efficiency | TBD | TBD | TBD |
| Improve service to customers (partners who enter into timber sale contacts, permits and agreements with USFS) | Qualitative sensing to gather customer perceptions of shifts toward increased efficiency and improved service during the timber sale process | TBD | TBD | TBD |
| Increase training that contributes to a highly skilled forest management workforce | % increase in number of employees reached and number of forest products delivery-related training courses offered | 915 in 15 courses | TBD | 1,520 in 20 courses (+65%) |
| Increase recruitment that contributes to a highly skilled forest management workforce | % increase in number of employees hired through Pathways intern and recent graduation programs at Society of American Foresters or other events | 110 | TBD | 165 (+50%) |
| Technology | ||||
| Increase efficiency through use of digital technologies | % increase in number of field crews using data recorders for cruising and sale layout | 60 | 95-100% | 85 (+40%) |
| Business Change | ||||
| Increase active management through timber sales | % increase in total number of acres treated with timber sales | 189,705 | 15-20% | 230,180 (+20%) |
| Improve landscape condition and reduce risk due to wildfire | % increase in total acres of NFS lands where final treatment effectively mitigates wildfire risk | 866,110 | 20-30%2 | 1,037,130 (+20%) |
| Increase timber outputs through volume sold to purchasers | % increase in timber volume sold (MMBF) | 2,960 | 10-20%2 | 3,190 (+10%) |
| Increase efficiency by decreasing time to award a timber sale | % decrease in calendar days from a signed decision following completion of NEPA analysis to award of first timber sale | 425 | 10-20% | 415 (not significant) |
| Increase efficiency by decreasing unit cost | % decrease in unit cost (ratio of CCF produced to the budget provided) | TBD | TBD | TBD |
| Increase efficiency through use of Designation by Prescription | % increase in number of DxP contracts awarded | 5 | 100% | 55 (+685%) |
| Increase timber volume sold using partnerships | % increase in volume sold under GNA agreements (MBF) | 22,625 | 10-20%3 | 89,175 (300%) |
| Increase timber volume sold using partnerships | % contribution of volume sold under stewardship contracts to total volume sold | 24% | 25-30%4 | 25% |
| Increase knowledge sharing and innovation implementation across the agency | % increase in number of innovative ideas (for examples, see innovations underway) that move from implementation and testing/validation on a small set of units to multi-unit or nation-wide application | TBD | TBD | TBD |
| Policy | ||||
| Ensure timely handbook and manual updates to provide guidance to employees | % decrease in number of out of date forest management directives | 15 | 100% | 15 (no change) |
1 - Data presented are approximate and are derived from a variety of sources, including: conversations with Washington Office and regional employees and steering teams, reports run from NRM – Timber Information Manager (TIM) and Corporate Data Manager; geo-enabled Performance Accountability System (gPAS) reports; Periodic Timber Sale Accomplishment Reports (PTSAR); FACTS; the USDA-USFS FY1981, FY2017, FY2019 and FY2020 Budget Justifications; and the 2018 USFS-TNC Master Stewardship Agreement accomplishments report. Data will be continually verified/corroborated as the FPM effort continues.
2 - These measures have assigned targets separate from FPM (USDA Forest Service FY2020 Budget Justification (March 2019)
3 - Goal is to increase volume produced through GNA annually by 5 – 10% to attain a 10-20% increase nationally by 2023.
4 - Goal is to reach and then maintain a 25-30% contribution of stewardship agreements to total volume, nationally.