Workload Analysis(WLA)

Rationale

To develop a work plan, you must have some realistic time estimates of what you can do within the time to be planned [just how much time do you spend in your gov

vehicle anyways?]

Objectives• the participants will be able to:

Understand the function of a WLA in developing project plans and annual/business plans for their project area

Prepare a project WLA using the WLA Tool provided utilizing information from the evaluation, long range plan and other sources

Prepare a time period (quarter, annual) WLA using the WLA Tool provided utilizing information from the evaluation, long range plan and other sources

Roles & Responsibilities

•MLRA SSO in NSSH 608.01(g)(1)(i)

•NSSH also references General Manual Title 340 for NRCS Policy–Found in Part 401, Subpart D, 401.31

Projects

What? Why? Who? When? Where?

What?

•Individual projects from your evaluation and long range plan

•Your entire FY goals for developing your APO

Why?• You need to know how long will

it take for a project from start to completion

• What is reasonable as far as what you can accomplish in a set period of time– fiscal year?– field season?

When? and Where?

•Both will probably come from your evaluation and long range plan

Analyze Individual Projects• What are the tasks (milestones) for

each project• Most projects will include several

tasks, such as:– Contacting landowners– Gathering documentation and capturing in Pedon PC and

NASIS– Characterization or reference sampling work in the field– ArcGIS activities– NASIS data population and/or editing– Correlation activities– Other?

Analyze Individual Projects•Equate this to the private

sector–Determine resources needed–Determine when those resources are available, especially if they are people

–Develop a budget proposal

Analyze Your FY• So now:

– Your APO will probably include multiple projects to be completed entirely or in part during the FY

– There are many support items that need to be addressed

– Do this to help plan what you can realistically accomplish in any given year

Critical Production Tasks for an APO• Projects from evaluation and long

range plan• Technical assistance (if Technical Soil

Services is part of workload)• Outreach• Whatever it is you are assigned to do

Support Items– Leave– Training given and received– Meetings– Management and supervision– Miscellaneous –

• travel to and from field • routine events (emails, phone calls, breaks, etc.)• Unanticipated, unplanned events

– Whatever it takes to support you and your staff

Sources for Estimating Time for activities• Tools• People resources

– Query those with experience– Go as far as needed to find your answers– We are not reinventing the tasks we do,

somebody has done it before• Test own estimates

– Do we tend to under or overestimate? • Adjust WLA as you gain knowledge

Time-frames other than annual?•Long range?•More than 1 year?•Quarterly?

Some more on the quarterly idea• Could do as a quarterly or an annual look • Do one time• Look at the seasons in your area• Look at what repeats each “season”

– Holidays, leave, training, meetings, etc• Account for remaining time based on the

“season” as:– field– office

A WLA Tool for your use

1-Project page

2-APO page

Summary• WLA is a tool to help you plan• WLA is a tool to help you sell your

plan• What is provided?:

– WLA Tool template for projects– WLA Tool template for APO (or other

period of time)– Job aids for using both