My experience with performance management terminology is that various organizations use different ways to describe terms. For example, some organizations do not make distinctions between performance measures and targets or between measures and metrics.
You will notice, there is no universal description of the performance management terms discussed below, just some general guidelines and best practices. Like many parish management concepts the key is to ensure that you have defined and clarified terms.
To assist us in the process of reviewing terms, it may be helpful to think of these concepts in a flipped pyramid structure (Figure 1). Each layer of the structure builds upon the other.
A. Aligning Goals and Outcomes
Goals are the desired results and outcomes that the parish is trying to achieve. Goals provide the parish community with a clear notion of success and a transparent way to talk about results. Goals are statements/descriptions of what the parish hopes to accomplish and achieve. Tied explicitly to parish mission and vision, goals are written with active verbs that emphasize the action associated with executing the goal.
As you get started on goal setting, you may find it helpful to begin by connecting parish mission and vision with the outcomes you are looking to achieve. I will explore four common goals categories and outcomes: strategic, programmatic, operational, and financial goals. This is not to say that there are not other categories, but thinking about goals in this format can help connect the dots between priorities, resources, and performance.
Note that these categories are not mutually exclusive but are often combined in support of one or the other.
Strategic Outcomes
Strategic outcomes are results that are focused on direct alignment between parish mission and vision. Strategic goals can be set for any time period but are typically established with a focus on longer-term (more than twelve months) needs. To develop strategic goals it is important that the parish has conducted an assessment of the current strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (risks) in order to then look forward. As part of this assessment the parish community can review parish mission and vision statements and discern whether any changes/refinements are required. Once this is assessment is complete, the parish can begin visioning what is needed for the future.
Programmatic Outcomes
Programmatic outcomes are established to ensure the critical success factors necessary for an effective parish program, initiative, and/or event. Understanding the results/outcomes for programs is a great way to justify funding and align program resources to meet parish goals.
Operational Outcomes
Operational outcomes are focused around results related to processes, procedures, and actions that create efficiency and/or effectiveness. Examples of operational outcomes include improvements in quality, speed, and reliability for operational tasks and/or responsibilities. Outcomes may also include improvements in human capital, asset management (facilities, information technology) and the acquisition of goods and services.
Financial Outcomes
Financial outcomes connect anticipated outcomes related to budget, financial management, and resource allocation. Examples may include projected costs savings, cost avoidance, or an increase in revenue for a given area.