Performance measurement is an ongoing process of monitoring and reporting on a program’s performance. It is used for tracking progress against expected results, continuous program improvement, and accountability to stakeholders. Information gathered through performance measurement is also used to support future evaluation projects.
VANASTAS works in close collaboration with clients to create sound, feasible, and informative strategies for consistently measuring their program’s performance over time.
We guide the development of program theories (often in the form of logic models) that explain how a program’s activities contribute to the achievement of its expected outcomes.
We build on program theories to select and develop performance metrics for routinely monitoring program progress, making timely program adjustments, and delivering performance updates to stakeholders.
Program Theories and Logic Models
- What immediate, intermediate, and ultimate outcomes do we expect the program to achieve?
- What activities are carried out and what products/services are delivered to achieve the expected outcomes?
- Is it reasonable to expect that the program activities will result in the expected outcomes? Why?
- What contextual factors influence program delivery and the achievement of expected outcomes?
Performance Indicators
- What indicators of the program’s progress toward achieving its expected outcomes will best support decision-making?
- Are the performance indicators relevant (i.e., do they align with the program theory)?
- Are the indicators useful, valid, and reliable?
- Are the indicators appropriate for and sensitive to the needs of the program’s diverse stakeholder groups?
- What are the benchmarks or targets for each indicator?
Data Collection Methods
- What types of information will be used to measure each performance indicator?
- What data collection tools are needed?
- How, when, and by whom will performance data be collected?
- What adjustments are needed to ensure that the data collection methods are appropriate across diverse stakeholder groups and program delivery locations?
- How will performance data be stored?
- Are the data collection and storage methods feasible to implement and affordable?
Use of Performance Information
- How, when and by whom will performance information be monitored?
- With whom and how frequently will performance information be shared?
- What formats will be used to report on and disseminate performance information?