Customising definitions of outputs, outcomes and impact
Posted on 13 August, 2008 – 8:02 pm(from the OM email list)
I am continually challenged with the organisations with whom I work to define the terms we will use. They are by and large Northern donors and their grantees – development NGOs and social change networks. I find that the meaning of outcome and impact (and output) varies considerably and sometimes the terms are used interchangeably. Thus, one of the biggest mistakes I can make is not to define the terms right from the start.
In a recent discussion titled Outcomes vs. Impact on the American Evaluation Association listserv EVALTALK, I shared a simple instrument that I use for developing common agreement about the definitions of outputs, outcomes and impact. It can be found at:
http://www.outcomemapping.ca/resource/resource.php?id=189
Hope it is helpful to some of you planners, monitors, evaluators and those who employ them.
If you are interested in the AEA EVALTALK listserv, subscribe at www.eval.org. To use the archives, go to this web site: http://bama.ua.edu/archives/evaltalk.html. Please note that the discussion I refer to will only be archived in September.
Best wishes,
Ricardo
ricardo wilson-grau consulting
NEW: Oude Singel 184, 2312 RH Leiden, Netherlands
Rua Marechal Marques Porto 2/402, Tijuca, Rio de Janeiro, CEP 20270-260, Brasil
Tel: 55 21 2284 6889, Skype: ricardowilsongrau
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6 Responses to “Customising definitions of outputs, outcomes and impact”
Hi Ricardo
FYI, my own actor oriented definitions go along these lines:
Activity: processes within the organisation concerned
Outputs: goods or services produced by the organisation and used by others
Outcomes: immediate to short term changes in the user of those outputs
Impact: longer term changes in that user, or more distant changes - in others who have a relationship with the user.
By rick davies on Aug 13, 2008
Hi Ricardo,
I work in Africa for similar donors and networks like you do. I face similar challenges in making these definitions. My definitions are pretty close to those of Rick Davies…and use the reverse engineering approach
Outputs: What we did
Outcomes: What happened - ie: response of the intervention site to our actions.
Impact: what Changed.
Mutahi Ngunyi
The Consulting House
Nairobi Kenya
By Mutahi Ngunyi on Aug 14, 2008
The explicit definitions of the terms; outputs, outcomes and impact were so clear to me that I had wished I get other basic definitions on M&E from you.
I am new on the job and the whole thing looks so strange to me. That has been my greatest challenge.
Kindly send as much information to me as you can to enable me stand on my feet in my organization and become resourceful.
By Kwartya, Stephen, M&E Officer, INTER-GENDER, Jos, Nigeria. on Sep 18, 2008
Outputs:products i.e (bicycles)
Outcomes:What the products do, used for, i.e(ease transport)
Impact:when people use those products what long time postive and longterm attributes,or risks can they have been eliminated for adopting to such services or product.(workers reach in time,employment in form of repairs at road side, women can now assisted to collect firewood and water)
Peter Buyondo
Kampala
By Peter on Sep 18, 2008
Analogy of breakfast.
Good bread and cheese is input
Taking breakfast is process
Filed up your stomach is output
Sufficient calory intake is outcome
Sufficient energy to do your daily work is impact
Hariadi Wibisono
New Delhi
By Hariadi Wibisono on Oct 17, 2008
Understanding IN TERMS OF levels in case of outputs, outcomes, impacts etc. is more EASIER. Defining it will/may very with change in context. Understanding of “WHICH LEADS TO WHAT?” is more importand.
I think Hariadi Wibisono from New Delhi has explained it nicely.
By MR. SURESH LAKADE on Nov 18, 2008