Attaining Effective Outcomes: Context for Center Research

With the IBM Center for The Business of Government’s next due date for new research report proposals approaching on September 6th, we are publishing additional perspectives on our research topics over the next week in the form of blog posts focused on each topic.   The insights in these posts draw from dialogue that helped to frame the research agenda, as well as subsequent content relevant to each research topic area.  We hope that these posts provide potential research applicants and authors of upcoming reports with additional context to help frame final proposals and draft reports that follow. 

The next resesrch area highlighted here is Attaining Effective Outcomes. An expanded version will be updated and posted shortly ~

Recent government improvement initiatives seek to achieve effective outcomes against a set of strategic imperatives and core mission functions. Whether through the provision of services, benefits, or care, outcomes-based approaches rise in priority across government agencies charged with converting policy and programs to outcomes. At the foundation of all government efforts to deliver better outcomes are the people, processes, technology, and policies that serve as both inputs and leading indicators of success. Given this foundation, customer centric design is integral to any strategy that focuses on outcomes. Also integral to citizen centric design are the personas and respective equities that can be assessed to drive measurable outcomes.

Effective agencies no longer solely focus on the busy work of throughput, but rather on whether throughput assures an organization’s desired outcomes, policy provides the latitude and boundaries necessary for achieving success, human capital serves mission results, and technology exists as a force multiplier in amplifying and accelerating progress. To this end, performance management is a vital and necessary element for attaining intended outcomes. Performance management links individual goals to program priorities and program priorities to agency strategy.

The most successful civilian and federal organizations achieve desired outcomes via outcome-driven process redesign, optimal technology platforms, effective talent and performance management, and efficient and orderly governance. These organizations also deploy a robust strategic communications strategy to effectively socialize meaningful visions, plans, and outcomes for key stakeholders—from Congress at the front end of policy and oversight, to tactical delivery teams who serve end customers and beneficiaries.