Managing for Outcomes: The Selection of Sets of Outcome Measures

Management responsibility for results for clients continues to increase. Management information systems that report on outcomes are an important tool for achieving these results. Yet little guidance is available to managers for creating a set of outcome indicators that yield a valid picture of program performance. Using child welfare as an example, this paper proposes criteria that can be used to evaluate a set of outcome measures to provide such a picture. Suggestions for producing a set of indicators that maximizes their fit to the criteria are made and next steps are identified. It is hoped that this proposal generates discussion of this important topic and results in useful guidance to managers.