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Service Delivery


Results-Based Decision-Making


How can we establish results-based decision-making?


According to researcher and results-based decision-making expert Mark Friedman, [1] there are several key steps involved in implementing this method of operation:

  1. Choose the desired outcome/result. This can come either from relevant research literature, or by community consensus, or a combination of both.

  2. Identify appropriate indicators to measure the chosen outcome. The data for the chosen indicator(s) should be readily available. According to Friedman, "This is not about what we wish we knew, but about real-world information actually produced" [1] Several indicators may be necessary for each outcome. For example, relevant indicators for the outcome "children succeeding in school" might include reading and math achievement scores and high school graduation rates.

  3. For each indicator, develop a baseline measurement. In order to measure progress, there must be a starting place. A baseline measurement shows the state of affairs at one point in time or as part of a trend before program activities were undertaken. These baselines can be used later as a comparison for data collected following program activities.

  4. Use the relevant research literature to identify activities that might impact the target indicators. This may help conserve resources by focusing efforts on those activities that are likely to impact the indicator rather than on those that have been shown to be ineffective.

  5. Develop a multi-year budget in order to ensure funding for the most promising programs.

See also Evaluating the Process and Monitoring Outcomes for more information about developing and using outcome measures.

More Information

Here are some sources of information about how to establish results-based planning:

  • Expert Mark Friedman and his fellow researchers have produced a detailed guide for organizations interested in implementing the results-based decision-making model. The guide contains a list of how-to questions, example case studies, and forms and worksheets to assist with outcome and indicator selection www.raguide.org.

  • The Better Results business area of the Finance Project provides a number of publications on results-based decision-making, including information on the basics of implementing results-based accountability for different types of organizations, establishing performance measures, and results-based budgeting www.financeproject.org.

  • The Center for the Study of Social Policy provides several publications on the topic of establishing results-based planning, some available as a free download. Among them are such publications as The Case for Shifting to Results-Based Accountability and From Outcomes to Budgets (PDF file).

  • The Urban Institute has published several relevant reports highlighting important issues in adopting and utilizing results-based decision-making, including www.urban.org/pdfs/results-based-stategovt.pdf (PDF file), www.urban.org/publications/410067.html, and www.urban.org/UploadedPDF/citizens.pdf (PDF file).

  • The U.S. General Accounting Office (GAO) produced a report that looks at the experiences of 40 different organizations to identify potential challenges in adopting results-based decision-making and how these challenges might be effectively overcome. See www.itpolicy.gsa.gov. In addition, the GAO produced a report for government agencies called Effectively Implementing the Government Performance and Results Act, which contains information broadly applicable for both government and private organizations interested in adopting results-based decision-making. www.gao.gov/special.pubs

Footnotes

[1] Friedman, Mark, "A Strategy Map for Results-Based Budgeting: Moving from Theory to Practice," Washington, D.C.: Finance Project, 1996 www.financeproject.org.