Program Summary

Performance measures generally fall into 2 categories: After the Fact - measuring outcomes, accomplishments and results; and During Work - measuring performance of processes, tasks, and activities. Measures may also be described as input (the quantity and quality of resources), output (the quantity and quality of goods and services delivered), efficiency (the resource cost in dollars or employee time to unit of product or service output), and outcome (the effectiveness of an agency's performance and the public benefit derived). Questions to ask in selecting measures are: What do we need to evaluate?; What do we want to control?; How will this measure support our strategic objectives?; How will we measure program success?; and What is important to our customers? As discussed in the strategic planning section of the Gateway, what we do should support our strategic plan. Measures help determine our progress and success in achieving those strategic goals and objectives.