Tell the Story: Why Performance Measures MatterCat Keen, M.S.W., M.B.ANational Service Programs Director

Learning Objectives

Participants will be able to:• Describe key performance measurement concepts.• Increase their knowledge related to outputs and outcomes.• Describe how performance measurement can be useful in program management.

Performance Measures?

Performance measurement is the ongoing, systematic process of tracking your program or project’s outputs and outcomes.

Why Performance Measurement?

Accountability to funders and stakeholders

• Tell your story, justify funding

Recognizing progress; reflects change

• Reliable information collected in a systematic way

Why Performance Measures?Program improvement• Spot and correct problems • Strengthen the

intervention• Determine where to

allocate limited resources

*Performance measurement is an integral part of program development, implementation, and assessment

Outputs• Amount of service provided

(people served, products created, or programs developed)

Outcomes• Reflect the changes or benefits that

occur • Can reflect changes in individuals,

organizations, communities, or the environment

• Address changes in attitudes/beliefs, knowledge/skills, behavior, or conditions

Activity• What is an example of an output

from your organization?

Types of Outcomes

Attitude/Belief Knowledge/Skill Behavior Condition

Thought, feeling Understanding, know-how Action Situation,

circumstance

Outcome Examples - EducationAttitude/Belief Knowledge/Skill Behavior Condition

Increased interest in school

Improved math ability

Increased school attendance

Successful completion of High School

Outcome Examples – Healthy Futures

Attitude/Belief Knowledge/Skill Behavior Condition

Increased desire to adapt good nutrition habits

Improved low-budget cooking skills

Increased healthy food intake

Improved household food security (supply)

Activity: Output or Outcome?

Activity: Write down one outcome associated with your previous output.

Theory of Change (logic model)

Community Need

Specific Intervention

Intended Outcome

Evidence• Guides choice of intervention

• Supports cause-effect relationship

Statistics documenting the

need

Problem/NeedStrep Throat

InterventionAntibiotics

OutcomeHealthy

Evidence Penicillin

Tetracycline

EVIDENCE: Information that supports your choice of a specific

intervention and its ability to produce your intended outcome.

It is NOT enough to just say “we believe” our intervention is “likely” to be successful. You need to justify

your choice with evidence.

Possible sources of evidence include:

• Your past performance measurement outcome data• Results from an impact evaluation of your program

• Research that documents the outcomes of similar programs

Is the article:• Relevant?• Compelling?• Up-to-date?• Objective?

Activity: Give Me The Money

My organization serves_____(output) through ________(intervention)

resulting in _________(outcome).

Thank you!Cat Keen, M.S.W., M.B.A.National Service Programs DirectorVolunteer Florida3800 Esplanade Way, Suite 180Tallahassee, FL 32311850.414.7400 ext. 107 (office)850.933.8517 (cell)www.volunteerflorida.org