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This information is intended to convey the underlying concepts for Reclamation's decision processes. It is not mandatory.
See the Reclamation Manual for official Reclamation-wide requirements.

Reclamation's Decision Process Guide

toolboxTool Selection Worksheet

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The following worksheet is just a selection process to get the right tool--it doesn't automatically kick out an answer or make a decision for you. But filling out this worksheet will help you consciously choose a tool that will work within your particular situation.

Worksheet

Step

Questions

Need

What is the problem?

Purpose

What do I want to accomplish?

Resources

What funds, time, and other resources are available?

Possibilities

What possible tools could I use?

Viability

What is the situation? Who is involved? Given that, which tools won't work and why?

Combinations

Which tools can I combine to work effectively?

Best fit

Which combinations work best in this situation and why?

Select

Which set of tools will I use?

Apply

Adapt the tool to your situation. Talk with participants about how the tool will be applied. Be sure to record how the tool was used and your results.

Monitor

Get feedback from participants. How well did it work? What could we improve?

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Worksheet Example

Step

Questions

Need

I have an small, empty patch of ground in my yard. My kids want to garden.

Purpose

Get the patch ready so my kids can plant pretty or useful plants.

Resources

Half an hour, $15, a shovel, a neighbor's small rototiller.

Possibilities

Shovel, glass, ax, spoon, rototiller, rake, dandelion picker. Do it myself or ask the kids to do it.

Viability

I don't have much time, and the kids only want to plant. Glass will break. Spoon, axe, and dandelion picker take too long.

Combinations

Use shovel, then rototiller. Use rototiller, then rake.

Best fit

Rototiller and rake take less time and produce finer soil.

Select

Rototiller and rake.

Apply

Took about 45 minutes because the rototiller got caught on rootballs. Talked to kids about planting. Kids got seeds while I worked.

Monitor

Had to untangle rootballs. Next time, weed first. Plan more time and get kids to weed. Task complete--kids enjoyed planting.

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Please contact Deena Larsen 303-445-2584 with questions or comments on this material.