It is important to recognize that some expressions of First, Second and Third
Order outcomes should accumulate concurrently within a given time period. While
there are causal relationships between the three orders they are not, and should not,
be achieved in a strictly sequential progression. For example, many successful
programs experiment at a small geographic scale before attempting to apply new
management practices at the national scale. Thus the First Order threshold may only
be achieved at the national scale when Second and Third Order outcomes have
accumulated at one or more demonstration site.