A Guide to IT Management Methodology


Outcome Management is a methodology for planning, managing, and realizing the desired outcomes from initiatives. Get our free guide to learn more.


Outcome Management is a methodology for planning, managing, and realizing the desired outcomes from initiatives. It is a systematic approach to ensuring that initiatives are aligned with the strategic goals of the organization and that they are delivering the intended results.

This guide provides an overview of Outcome Management and how it can be applied in the Canadian Government. It covers the following topics:

  • The basics of Outcome Management
  • The steps involved in Outcome Management
  • Tools and techniques for Outcome Management
  • Case studies of Outcome Management in the Canadian Government

This guide is intended to help senior leaders understand Outcome Management and how it can improve the planning, management, and realization of initiative results. The purpose of this guide is to provide practitioners of Outcome Management with a process flow, a set of instructions and tools, and tips and pointers on how to conduct an Outcome management exercise.

Benefits of Outcome Management

Outcome Management can provide several benefits, including:

  • Improved alignment of initiatives with strategic goals
  • Increased transparency and accountability
  • Better decision-making
  • Improved efficiency and effectiveness
  • Increased value for money

How to Get Started with Outcome Management

The first step in getting started with Outcome Management is to develop a clear understanding of the organization's strategic goals. Once the strategic goals are clear, the next step is to identify the initiatives that will be used to achieve those goals.

For each initiative, it is important to define the desired outcomes. Outcomes should be specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART).

Once the desired outcomes have been defined, the next step is to develop a plan for achieving those outcomes. The plan should include the following elements:

  • Activities that will be needed to achieve the outcomes
  • Resources that will be needed to support the activities
  • Metrics that will be used to measure progress
  • A timeline for achieving the outcomes

The final step in getting started with Outcome Management is to implement the plan and monitor progress. It is important to review the plan and make adjustments as needed regularly.

Outcome Management is a powerful tool that can help improve the planning, management, and realization of initiative results. The methodology can be applied to an initiative at various stages of the initiative’s lifecycle. It is most successful when conducted early in the initiative’s lifecycle while it is conceptualized (i.e., the tangible and intangible deliverables are being contemplated). Outcome Management is then used to, among other things, articulate the value of the initiative and develop a comprehensive business or value case. It also forces the identification of intermediate outcomes that serve as milestones or leading indicators towards attaining the outcomes and permits tracking progress towards the final outcomes. It should then be used at regularly planned intervals (or gates) to determine any variances from the original outcome targets and help to determine corrective action. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can begin to reap the benefits of Outcome Management.

Download our guide to Outcome Management today and learn how to improve the planning, management, and realization of initiative results.

How to Use This Guide

This guide is intended to help CIOs understand Outcome Management and how it can be used to improve the planning, management, and realization of results from initiatives.

To use this guide, CIOs should read the section on the basics of Outcome Management. This section will provide an overview of the methodology and its benefits.

Once CIOs have a basic understanding of Outcome Management, they can move on to the section on the steps involved in Outcome Management. This section will provide a step-by-step guide to implementing Outcome Management in their organization.

The section on tools and techniques for Outcome Management provides a list of resources that CIOs can use to implement Outcome Management.

The section on case studies of Outcome Management in the Canadian Government provides examples of how Outcome Management has been used to improve the performance of government organizations.

CIOs can use this guide to improve the planning, management, and realization of initiative results. By following the steps outlined in this guide, CIOs can begin to reap the benefits of Outcome Management.

Here are some additional tips for CIOs who are using this guide:

  • Read the entire guide before you start implementing Outcome Management. This will help you understand the methodology and its benefits.
  • Get buy-in from key stakeholders. This will help you ensure that Outcome Management is successful.
  • Start small. Don't try to implement Outcome Management across your entire organization simultaneously. Start with a small pilot project and then scale it up as you see success.
  • Be patient. Outcome Management is a long-term process. Don't expect to see results overnight.

By following these tips, CIOs can use this guide to improve the planning, management, and realization of initiative results.




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