How is performance measured?
Each program adopts outcome, output, and efficiency measures and uses them to track their progress towards goals. Taken together, a program’s measures should tell a comprehensive story of its performance. • An outcome refers to the events or conditions of direct importance to the public/beneficiary that are external to the program. An outcome answers the question “What is the program’s goal or purpose?” For example, the goal of a job training program is to give someone the skills to find a job, as opposed to giving out a grant. An outcome measure may be the number and percent of people employed within six months of completing the job training program or how much their income increased. • An output refers to the internal activities of a program, such as the products or services delivered. The output answers the question “What does the program do to achieve its goal or purpose?” For example, a job training program may provide a class to teach someone the skills necessary to find a job. A
