Organizational Structure for R3: Implementing Change to Improve Efficiencies

The 2023 report, “Organizational Decision Making for R3: A Process for Leadership” (MSCG F23AP00513), provides decision makers and R3 coordinators with a clear decision framework and organizational guidance to establish goals and  objectives, resources allocated, evaluation, and adaptation for their R3 efforts by applying the processes of structured  decision-making, adaptive management, results chains (logic models), and the Outdoor Recreation Adoption Model. This proposed project will apply those recommendations to facilitation in pilot states to help them evaluate, refine, and  improve the recommended structural decision-making process, logic models, and R3 strategies. Several states in the  Midwest region (IA, IL, IN, MI, MN, and ND) have recently expressed interest in facilitated workshops to apply the  recommendations from the 2023 report to their R3 efforts. Funds from this project will be used to facilitate sessions with  these states to review and evaluate R3 structure, resources, goals, strategies, objectives, tactics, implementation, and  adaptation process. Facilitators would be provided; the sessions would be planned, and notes recorded, and reports  written by the principal investigator and project team with this grant.  Participating states will receive a state specific report  outlining the findings, recommendations, conclusions, and a summary of all pilot state work in the region. Participating pilot  states would not be required to make any changes to R3 efforts (though they may choose to). The deliverables of this  project will be available for all states and organizations to apply to their organizations. Benefiting states will be empowered  to evaluate, refine, and improve the recommended structural decision-making process, logic models, and R3 strategies by  applying the recommendations and products identified in the original report (Organizational Decision Making for R3: A  Process for Leadership) and from the experiences of pilot states. All states will be able to apply these results and actions  independently and/or bring in additional facilitation expertise to implement the organizational review. If this project is not  funded, an opportunity to implement and improve trial recommendations from the previous study will be missed. Deliverables will include state specific reports and recommendations, a final report documenting all facilitation activities  and process improvements for their R3 efforts, and refinements and improvements to the organizational structure  procedure originally recommended. All deliverables will be made available to the Association of Fish and Wildlife  Agencies, all regional R3 Committees, state and organization R3 coordinators, and the US Fish and Wildlife Service. Subsequent actions will include application of the refined process in participating, interested states and organizations  around the nation to improve the efficiency, effectiveness, and evaluation of R3 efforts.