New Portal to Cost and Performance Integration

1. New Portal to Cost and Performance Integration The Planning and Evaluation Staff is pleased to introduce the new and improved Cost and Performance Integration Website for the Fish & Wildlife Service. This website is your portal to all the Service’s official information concerning cost and performance. You are now able to navigate thru the various reports and analytical tools (depending on your permissions), create ad hoc analyses on cost and performance data, review and track performance metrics, and access key links to the Department and OMB sites that provide additional Cost and Performance data and guidance. The drop-down menus across the top of the screen are segregated by subject matter and designed as a one-stop access point for each level of data. The links down the left side of the site are intended to provide quick access to important documents and key information. The following pages provide you with a synopsis of the key features and information you will find under each menu and guidance on how to access the various reports and tools.

2. The drop-down menus across the top of the page are your access keys to “subject matter” information. Each menu is reviewed in detail on the following pages. The “WHAT’S NEW” section will be updated periodically and provide you with the latest links to new reports or guidance concerning cost and performance information. Key Features The links on the left provide “quick” access to important information and commonly used documents. The links in the light brown text are still under construction. The links on the bottom of the page provide you with a way to get back to the home page and also link you to other key information for the Fish and Wildlife Service.

3. Activity Based Cost Management Text shown in white on any drop down tab indicates a link to a business intelligence tool. Access to these commercial software tools is limited to those who have received training and/or been provided a user license. The Activity Based Cost Management menu provides key information concerning the Service's Activity-Based Costing (ABC) data. The first two links provide you with a basic overview of ABC as well as the methodology by which costs are assigned to activities and FWS Operations Plan measures and goals. The link in white allows a licensed user to perform ad-hoc queries on the ABC cost data. All Service employees are able to view historic cost reports by fiscal quarter. You also have access to the current fiscal year Activity Dictionary as well as the dictionaries associated with previous fiscal years. There is a link to the Time & Attendance Worksheet in a variety of formats with the accompanying training guidance. There is another link to information on improvements and feedback from Service employees. Lastly, there is list that shows how the FWS Activities crosswalk to the DOI activities. Arrows on the drop down menu indicate “fly out” menus that lead to an additional level of information. Simply select the subject you are interested in viewing and the link will open that page. If you click on a link that takes you away from the website, you can use your back button on your browser to go back to the website

4. Performance Planning and Goal Tracking The Performance Planning and Goal Tracking menu provides access to the tools needed to enter and track annual and cumulative Service-wide targets. This information will be collected and monitored by Program and Regional Managers. The commercial software tools can only be accessed by those who have been given licenses to enter, modify or approve metrics. The other information included on this menu include the FWS Operations Plans, historic annual performance plans and past strategic plans. There is a link to the FWS Performance Framework which is a graphical depiction of how cost information and performance information are aligned to the DOI Strategic Goal Structure. This model has become a best practice in the Department of Interior. Additional information is provided on PART, Organizational Assessments and, new this year are SES Performance Templates. These templates can only be accessed by the Senior Level Management in the Service.

5. The Cost & Performance Integration menu provides access to the DOI Quarterly Report that integrates cost information with performance metrics. This report was mandated by the Department in FY 2005 and provides the Department with an integrated view of the Services’ ability to link costs and performance. Those with licensed software access will also be able to create ad hoc reports integrating cost and performance data by Region or Program. The Cost & Performance Framework is a graphic and explanation that details how costs are driven from programs to performance goals as well as demonstrating how the costs are aligned with the performance metrics for each goal. The Data Validation and Verification (V&V) link provides information on either Cost V&V or Performance V&V. The cost validation methodology is still conceptual but will be built out to start in FY 2007. There is also a link to a Cost and Performance Budgeting methodology that was introduced at the April 2005 Directorate Meeting for 2007 Budget Planning. Cost and Performance Integration

6. Key Concepts and Training The Key Concepts and Training menu provides links to Time Coding, ABC Model Methodology and ABC Model Software Applications training materials. These materials were used by the Planning and Evaluation Staff (PES) to train key personnel in the Washington Office and Regions on the model methodology and the online analytical processing (OLAP) tool that is used to view cost data. The Definitions and Key concepts tab links to key terms and definitions for understanding Activity Based Cost Management. The Other DOI and External Links menu provides information on the DOI Strategic Plan, The President’s Management Agenda, Deputy Secretary’s Memo, a link to the DOI ABC Website and other external links. The videos link provides access to view videos on Cost and Performance Integration by Secretary Gale Norton, former FWS Director Steve Williams, Beth Stephens and others.

7. Human Resources The Human Resources menu is structured to provide information on linking employee performance to goal achievement. The current menu is only populated with the SES Templates but will eventually be available as a source to inform the use of performance metrics in employee performance plans.

8. Help The Help menu provides Regional contact information for questions on Cost and Performance. You will also be able to see the responsibilities of the implementation team, learn who the contacts are for performance in the Washington Office and identify the members of the Deputies Oversight Team. Within the next few months, the implementation team will be developing an online help desk. This concept will provide an additional mechanism in the portal to allow employees to contact the Planning and Evaluation Staff on issues regarding cost and performance integration, training, licensing/accessing business intelligence tools, getting software support, and general questions on the implementation of cost and performance integration at the FWS.

9. Incomplete Links The following links are under construction: Subject Menu Navigation Links • Performance Planning and Goal Tracking • SES Performance Templates> Guidance • Definitions and Key Concepts • Performance Planning and Goal Tracking • Cost and Performance Integration • Human Resources • Linking Performance Goals to Employees • SES Performance Templates> Guidance • Contacts • Implementation Team • Washington Office Performance Contacts • Deputies Oversight Team • Help • Help Desk Left Side Navigation Links • Latest News • Director’s Notes • Regional Highlights • Deputies Oversight Team Reports • Management Tools • Manager Analysis • What-if Scenarios for Resource Planning As these links are updated, a note will be added to the "What's New" section on the Website.