Results-Based Accountability Frequently Asked Questions
This is a collection of questions people typically ask about Results-Based Accountability. We have tried to find the hardest questions, and give the best answers we could. There is still much we don’t know about this work, and, in truth, there always will be. This work is, by its nature, a process of experimentation and discovery. For that reason we also see this guide as a work in progress, where we will add new knowledge as we gather it.
You are part of that gathering process. As you read this you will find that you have ideas and experience to offer. And we would like to hear from you about it. You may also think of tough questions you would like answered, and we would like to hear these as well. Or you may not be satisfied with the answer offered here. Please Contact Us and let us know.
Frequently Asked Questions
- 1.4 Where do we start?
- 1.5 How do we get people together to do this work
- 1.6 Where do we start in a (state, county, city or community) that wants to do this? Where do we start in one that doesn\’t want to do this?
- 1.7 What do we do with people who are cynical and burned out from the last time we tried this?
- 1.8 How do we fit together different approaches when there is more than one approach to Results-Based Accountability being used in my area?
- 1.9 How can we work on long term well-being in a political environment with term limits and demands for immediate success?
- 1.10 How is this work different in the executive branch vs. legislative branch?
- 1.11 How do we do this if the levels above us (e.g. federal, state, county, city) don\’t care and won\’t help?
- 1.12 How do we keep this simple? (Or What do we do when things go off track?)
- 1.13 How long should all of this take?
- 2.1 What are the basic ideas of results-based decision making and budgeting?
- 2.2 What is the difference between population well-being (population accountability) and client well-being (performance accountability) and why is this important?
- 2.3 How do we get people to understand the difference between indicators and performance measures?
- 2.6 How do we identify results in terms of everyday experience?
- 2.7 How do we select indicators for a result?
- 2.8 Where do we get the data for indicators? How do we get better data?
- 2.9 What do we do if we don\’t have any good data at all?
- 2.10 How do we create a report card and what do we do with it? (on child and family well-being, for other populations, for an entire community quality of life)
- 2.13 How do we create an action plan and budget?
- 2.14 How do we finance a results-based plan?
- 2.15 OK, so what\’s the link to the budget?
- 2.16 How do we create a Family and children\’s Budget (an Elder\’s Budget, An Environmental Budget) and what do we do with it?
- 2.17 How do we create a Cost of Bad Results report and what do we do with it?
- 2.18 How do we present a results-based plan to the public, to political leadership?
- 2.19 How can we get more flexibility in the use of the money in the service system?
- 3.1 What are the basic ideas behind performance accountability?
- 3.2 How do we get people to understand the difference between Results-Based Accountability? (reprise)
- 3.3 What is the difference between indicators and performance measures? How do Results-Based Accountability fit together?
- 3.4 What is the relationship between performance measurement, performance accountability and evaluation?
- 3.5 Where do we start in an organization that wants to do this?
- 3.6 Where do we start in an organization that doesn\’t want to do this?
- 3.7 How do we help people identify performance measures for their program or service?
- 3.8 What is the difference between measures that answer: “How much did we do? How well did we do it? and Is anyone better off?”
- 3.9 What is the difference between the 4 Quadrant performance measures and logic model performance measures?
- 3.10 How do we identify performance measures for administrative functions like personnel, budgeting, etc.?
- 3.11 What are some examples of performance measures we can use for my program or service?
- 3.14 What do we do with performance measures once we have them? How can we use performance measures to improve performance?
- 3.15 How do we use performance measures in writing and overseeing grants and contracts?
- 3.16 How do we use performance measures in budgeting?
- 3.17 How do we use performance measures in writing grant applications?
- 3.18 How do we use performance measures to improve cross agency service systems?
- 3.19 How do we create a performance improvement system in our organization?
Comprehensive Results-Based Accountability Resources
RBA Implementation Guide
Glossary of Terms
Workshop Materials
Tools & Books
Success Stories
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