8149

• UCREFRP Catalog Number: 8149
• Author: Phenicie, C. K. and J. R. Lyons.
• Title: Tactical Planning in Fish and Wildlife Management and Research.
• USFW Year: 1973.
• Copyright Material: NO

All too frequently, however, these same biologists undertake fish and
game projects before they have developed a plan that identifies and spans all
of the necessary steps from project inception to completion. In practice,
unfortunately, the "travel itinerary" of fish and game management and research
activities is often intangible and evasive. The consequences of error are
not immediately evident for the projects seldom have a definitive objective
against which progress or attainment can be measured. Moreover, the
biologists, generally beleaguered by workloads, deadlines, and insufficient
help, substitute expedience for better judgement and get on with the work
thus bypassing the all important thought process--planning.

The same processes that are used in planning a trip itinerary may also
be used in planning a "project itinerary." Since no map is available for
project planning, one must be developed to specify the destination or objec-
tive and to identify and organize the steps necessary to reach the objective.

Step-down planning is one system for developing a tactical plan that is
tangible and by which progress can be readily determined. It is a logical
system for identifying and displaying all elements needed in problem solving.
Its utility is its adaptability for use at any administrative level where a
problem arises. It can be as helpful to the director as to the field
biologist.

IDENTIFYING THE PROBLEM

. . . if many innovations must be skillfully fitted
together to produce a large net improvement, it is likely
that they are not the result of random efforts directed
toward diverse and unrelated goals, but are due to a
conscious plan . . . It suggests to us that the isolated
invention or the random scientific fact is not likely to "fit
in" or, therefore, to be utilized. In other words, it tells
us once again that recognized need is the key to efficient
utilization. (Sherwin & Isenson, 1967)

A fish and game program is a collection of strategies to deal with broad
or long-term problems. A strategic plan identifies and focuses attention on
these broad problems which may represent the established area of responsi-
bility of a worker or be assigned to him by an administrator.

The resolution of problems identified in the strategic planning process
requires tactical planning which is the subject of this paper. Tactical
plans give life to the strategic plan. They establish mechanisms for
delivering the outputs and accomplishing the strategic objectives in a pre-
dictable manner. They permit logical demonstration of need for every element
or activity in the plan because every element is generated ultimately by the
problem or strategic objective.

There are always more problems than there are time, money, and bodies to
solve them. Relative need has not always had a high place in problem selec-
tion. "Much past research in the fish and wildlife field was done without a

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