Summary

The US Forest Service (USFS) seeks to transform how it conducts its work. This icnluded National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), Planning and Implementation & Monitoring workflow. Furthermore, this had full recognition that large efficiencies in workforce utilization and the quality of the analytical results can both be improved. Xentity assisted in the development of the performance architecture resulting from the reengineering of the NEPA workflows. Also, it resulted from the capacity to manage actions through a land management lifecycle. Select aspects of the performance architecture were a result of the financial analysis used to establish the business case for IT investment. Also, the market analysis of government, commercial and Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) products.

Problem and Solution

The scale of land and resources managed by the USFS combined with the agency’s organizational model make the inherent complexity of environmental analysis and planning a challenge. It required a technical approach to a variety of tasks. Also, a plan which will guide the NEPA Business Requirements Gathering, EMC Business Flow and Performance Strategy, and presentation staffing, timelines and deliverables.

Solutions

Xentity started by reviewing existing EMC artifacts and documentation (websites, handbooks, policies manuals). This served as a prelude to initial planning meetings with the project team.  Xentity prepared draft high-level workflows in coordination with the project team. These identified and organized the required functional workshops with the EMC SMEs. Once the functional areas and workflows are established and defined, key product and data interdependencies will be documented.

Xentity also reviewed existing IT development activities, strategic business, and SME input. This helped create a coherent set of performance  goals, objectives, and measures that reflect the future state of the organization.  Using the stakeholders inputs, newly established workflows and information exchanges the team will create a visual and narrative that will provide a common operating view and vision for EMC.

Finally, Xentity reviewed USFS NEPA, Administrative Review, Litigation (NAL) Policy, Manuals and Handbooks. This helped gather baseline business requirements, rules, ensure regulatory compliance and prepare for engaging SMEs. Xentity reviewed and analyzed existing I&M business and technical requirements and capabilities and carried forward feature requirements consistent with the outcomes of the workshops and SME engagement. Any existing field developed solutions were reviewed using an interview method and demonstration when available. Field generated features and solutions were transcribed to business requirements and logged as potential solution components. 

Outcome and Benefits

Xentity’s efforts supported the USFS in identifying the criteria to identify the appropriate types of SMEs for the functional workshops and establish a cadence for workshop scheduling. These efforts also identified and validated additional requirements in the form of changes to business workflows that reflected improvement opportunities. Furthermore, our efforts ensured the EMC business model requirements connect to and align with strategy and performance activities. The workflow identified organizational roles, authorities and responsibilities for decision making and performing tasks. Also, EMC products and services were identified and described as associative outputs to workflows.