Feasibility & Outcomes Matrix - Reference Questions

Situation Analysis - evaluating the need or problem that encourages intervention

• Describe the initiative and its purpose (include environmental goals and other goals sought from the initiative such as worksite changes, societal changes, partnership benefits, regulatory implications)
• How does it support the current priorities of your bureau and the Department?

Priority Setting

• Are resources available, such as internal and external staff, time, materials, money, and equipment?
• Is it the "right" time to implement this initiative (e.g. it's a "hot" environmental issue, there's interagency support or efforts underway, there's grant money available, etc.)?
• Could other alternatives be considered, looking at costs, time and effectiveness (e.g. legislation, regulation, or educational approach)?
• Is information available to make this initiative easier to implement and operate (e.g. good research, other similar projects to learn from)?

Inputs - what is invested to change the need or problem in the desired direction

• What materials and/or equipment will be needed in the project and can it be obtained at low or no cost internally or though partners?
• Estimate a project cost, considering all of the expenses associated with the project (material, equipment, services, staff time, contractor time, etc.)

Outputs - what planned activities are done with programmatic investments and participants

Activities
• What are the goals of the project, including quantitative environmental goals and others such as creating awareness of an issue and making behavioral changes with individuals or businesses? (see "Outcomes" column for examples of some goals/outcomes)
• Has an implementation plan been developed, with realistic goals and a realistic schedule? Was it reviewed by others to evaluate the feasibility?
• Will the project overall (goals, costs, implementation…) be easy enough for others to replicate it? Have project managers been recording their processes in order for others to replicate? (Replicability may not be an objective, but if similar initiatives are being considered elsewhere, it would be helpful to have this program available as a template to reduce resources and increase effectiveness.)
• How will the project be evaluated along the way to determine if goals were achieved? Have measures been planned to correct any potential problems along the way?
• Have specific participants been identified (participants include internal and external staffs that are needed to administer the project and people to actually take on the project to get the results)? How will the participants be identified and targeted?

Participation
• Is public participation needed and what is the appropriate level of public participation (inform, consult, involve, collaborate)?
• Are there any stakeholders involved with implementation or participation (stakeholders are those people, groups, or organization that would be affected in some way by the outcomes of the initiative)?
• Are any partnerships sought from or planned in the initiative (partners are those people, groups, or organizations that invest resources (time, ideas, money, materials, etc.) into an initiative)?

Outcomes - what changes/impacts result both immediately and long-term

• Did the project provide information and tools for participants to build awareness and knowledge about the environmental issue at hand (awareness and knowledge make people feel a part of the whole and creates support and involvement for an initiative)? Was information provided on a large scale, such as a public education campaign, to reach a larger audience and the key players (e.g. consumers)?
• Did the project motivate participants to take action and get environmental results?
• Did participants change their behavior to foster positive environmental results (e.g. changes in personal habits like driving habits, waste disposal practices, use of less harmful products for cleaning/maintenance, etc.)? Changes in attitudes/behavior create long-term environmental benefits.
• Were policy changes made to foster positive environmental results? Policy changes can include those made through federal or state rules/codes or within the target business/industry/organization.
• What types of partnerships were formed? Were financial benefits derived from combining resources, finding grants? Were there administrative benefits from reducing resources burden on just one participant? Were there regulatory benefits (coordination with partners can result in better regulation by addressing industry needs better and avoiding comment and expensive and lengthy litigation)? Did a partnership create the ability to address problems that would otherwise be unfeasible? Did the formation of a partnership create resources for future activities (more partners means larger audience over longer time frame)? Was there a unique partnership that can serve as a status for a regional or national model?
• Were any recognition or incentives given and what type? Did providing recognition and/or incentives seem to play a major factor in participation and/or results?
• Were there changes to business operations resulting in less waste and less pollution (e.g. use of lower solvent paints in processes or maintenance operations, reduced energy use through new technology equipment/lights)? Were requirements for employees established to change workplace practices or promote more environmentally friendly modes of traveling to work (e.g. prohibit landscape maintenance on Ozone Action Days, provide alternative transit options like bus tickets or bike facilities)? Does it appear that changes are going beyond the worksite and employees or the public are making changes in their personal habits? Did initiative help streamline bureaucratic processes or create other regulatory benefits (e.g. avoidance of permit conditions, faster permit issuance, fewer inspections, other reduced regulatory burdens ...)? Did initiative create a positive example that can be easily identified and adopted by other industry or employers?
• Were any economic goals achieved (e.g. initiative reduced operational costs, saved gas, generated more business)?
• What were the environmental outcomes? What was measured to determine if the environmental goals were achieved? Was a Simplified Life Cycle Assessment completed? If so, what was the outcome? If not, did the SLCA remind one of the broad picture, life-cycle concept?

If you need further assistance in completing this matrix, please contact Heather Boyd at UW-Extension (608) 263-0857, e-mail heather.boyd@ces.uwex.edu.

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