Presented by Brenda Dolieslager, Registered Psychologist & Outcome Measurement Consultant In this webinar Brenda looks at the risks & opportunities that come with implementing an outcomes based strategy. By watching this webinar you will: • Learn what is and is not required to successfully adopt an outcomes based strategy. • Understand how you are positioned to adopt an outcomes based strategy and what should be your next steps • Assess the risks involved and learn how they can be mitigated • Be armed with information to commence of further internal and external conversations around outcomes based strategies. To view the full webinar please visit: https://www.blackbaud.com.au/notforprofit-events/webinars/past

1. Addressing the Risks &
Opportunities of Implementing
an Outcomes Based Strategy

2. About me
⁞ Registered Psychologist & Outcome Measurement Consultant
⁞ Scientist Practitioner, Clinical Psychologist, Senior Manager
⁞ Owner of consulting firm and private psychology practice
⁞ Specialising in practical and actionable outcome
measurement consulting, based on evidence, to help others
(and the sector) engage in continuous improvement
⁞ History in evidence based service delivery models, program
development, outcome and performance frameworks and
data systems
⁞ Public, private and NFP sectors (including GM of YP at
STREAT)

3. About you
Raise Your Hand…
⁞ Who is from a NFP/social enterprise?
⁞ Who here is from a government
organisation?
⁞ Who here is from a private organisation?

4. About you
Poll:
What stage is your organisation at with an
Outcomes Based Strategy?
⁞ Currently investigating
⁞ In strategic plan but not commenced
⁞ Currently developing

5. Let me know:
If you have identified obstacles or risks for your
organisation in implementing an Outcomes Based
Strategy…
…send these to me using your ‘chat’ feature so I
can pay special attention to those most relevant to
you during this webinar

6. What is Outcome
Measurement?
In a social change environment

7. “You Can't Manage What You
Don't Measure”
paraphrasing of an original quote by Lord Kelvin. The first to use this paraphrasing was Bill
Hewlett, the co-founder of Hewlett Packer.
“…if I keep no record of what I
do, I can always assume I’ve
succeeded.”
-Stephen Colbert
-*10 Key Takeaways From Bill Gates' Annual Letter 2013*

8. Why does it matter?
⁞ It’s about people and it effects lives
⁞ Isn’t it vital we do that right?
⁞ It is not enough to know how many people we help
⁞ It is not enough to we want help
⁞ It is not enough to assume we are helping
⁞ We need to know if we are helping
⁞ We need evidence and we need data so that we
can keep doing it and doing it better

9. Social impact and change can be
difficult to quantify
⁞ It’s easier and often habitual for us to report outputs
⁞ Don’t always know exactly what we are trying to do
(“we help disadvantaged youth…”)
⁞ If we don’t define our intention, we cannot know if we
are really helping to create change
⁞ Put another way – we then only truly know how many
people we serviced but not how well
⁞ Outputs are still important but outcomes are the core,
the why we do what we do in the first place!

10. This might help …
Outputs Outcomes
Generally Numeric /Quantitative Generally Qualitative
Counts Impact
Number of program participants p/y Increased self worth
Number of referrals received Improved interpersonal skills
Program completion rate Improved employability

11. The theory a bit much?
If getting your head around the idea of …
⁞ performance management frameworks
⁞ results based accountability
⁞ theory of change
⁞ program logic
⁞ outcome measurement strategy
… has been difficult and if this stops you taking the
next step towards measuring how well you help …

12. Consider this:
All those roads lead to
Rome!

13. Example from STREAT
Inputs Outputs Outcomes Impact
• Staff time
• Grants
• Salary
• Program props
• Metrics
• Meet new people
• Cert I & II
• Number connected to
specialist services
• Numbers of young
people ‘serviced’
• Numbers of referrals
made to external
agencies
• Number of work
experience shifts
provided
• Increased confidence to
interact with others
• Increased resilience
• Increased confidence in
abilities
• Improved employability
skills (critical thinking,
decision making)
• Improved life skills
(communication skills,
problem solving,
emotional regulation)
• Increased income
• Reduce drugs & alcohol
• Improved mental health
• Improved housing stability
• Stable Life
(stable self,
stable job,
stable home)

14. Where do we start with outcome
measurement?
If you are:
⁞ Checking in with clients and recording progress
notes
⁞ Doing pre and post assessments
⁞ Doing intake interviews that ask about functioning
You already have the bones of an outcome measurement
strategy!

15. What would tell you about
progress?
Find the tools you need to measure how well you do what
you do …
⁞ Surveys
⁞ Pre and post metrics
⁞ Attendance and Time Spent
⁞ Goals with rating scales
⁞ Feedback
⁞ Learn from others - PerformWell

16. DIRECT
SERVICE
CASE
MANAGE
CASE LOAD
MANAGEMENT
TRACK
SERVICES
AND
PROGRESS
MONITOR
SERVICE
DELIVERY
PROGRAM
MANAGEMENT
DETERMINE
WHAT WORKS
AND WHAT
NEEDS TO BE
FIXED
EXECUTIVE
LEADERSHIP
BUILD
CAPACITY AND
INCREASE
FUNDRAISING
VALIDATE AND
IMPROVE
EVIDENCE OF
IMPACT
Is it worth it? YES!

17. Is it worth it? YES!
Attract & Keep Funders & Investors
You can’t do good work without the funds to sustain it!
⁞ Prove you are doing/can continue doing what your
mission is
⁞ No longer enough to report on ‘bums on seats’ and
program numbers, funders want evidence of progress
against actual social impact/social change objectives

18. Is it worth it? YES!
Program Effectiveness & Improvement 1
You can’t create change if your services are ineffective
and you need data to know this!
⁞ Which program components are effective, and do
variables such as sequencing and dose have any
impact?
⁞ Discover which activities are not having impact and
trim the fat

19. Is it worth it? YES!
Program Effectiveness & Improvement 2
You can’t create change if your services are ineffective
and you need data to know this!
⁞ Continuous improvement and quality assurance to
improve and support daily service delivery, including
resource allocation, efficiency and effectiveness
⁞ Informed new program development e.g.. patterns of
presenting issues and demographic trends

20. What are the obstacles and
how do we mitigate them?

21. Frameworks & Systems
⁞ Frameworks & terminology can be intimidating
⁞ De-mystify outcome measurement
⁞ Entrenched existing systems & processes
⁞ No growth without change
⁞ Existing poor data and lack clarity about good data
⁞ Education
⁞ Too much system customisation
⁞ System and implementer vendor performance
⁞ Pick carefully – do your research and get references
⁞ Good relationship with vendor and open communication

22. Support (Pre, During & Post)
⁞ Consider the board
⁞ Consider executive
⁞ Consider staff
⁞ Education
⁞ Dedication
⁞ Lead by example

23. Resourcing
⁞ Insufficient staff resource
⁞ Dedicated project manager + subject
matter experts
⁞ Cost, scope & timeframe over-run
⁞ Good planning, transparency pre-project,
communication and phasing

24. User Adoption
⁞ Frameworks & terminology can be intimidating
⁞ Staff education & training
⁞ People don’t like or are scared of the system
⁞ Good and timely access to help and support
⁞ “How does this relate to what I actually do??”
⁞ Making outcomes visible (incentive & reward)

25. The biggest risk is to do
nothing …
… and just keep counting!

26. I’m inspired now!
Where to from here?
⁞ Match your next step to where you are now
⁞ Currently investigating (education)
⁞ In strategic plan but not commenced
(education/personalised assessment)
⁞ Currently developing (personalised
assessment/research on available tools)
⁞ There are a range of people and places and tools to
help you get there

27. A practical & actionable way
forward with BMD
⁞ Outcomes measurement education & action plan
package (2 hours)
⁞ Outcomes measurement personalised Health
Check & implementation plan (20 hours)
⁞ Outcomes measurement tailored strategy
development (hourly rate basis)

28. BMD Psychology Consulting
⁞ +61 403 22 6963
⁞ www.bmdpsychologyconsulting.com.au
⁞ brenda@bmdpsychologyconsulting