What are Project Outcomes? And how are they different from outputs or objectives?
Why is it important to understand project outcomes?
Business owners value project outcomes because they aid in producing deliverables that serve their purposes and objectives. Other benefits of understanding your project outcomes include:
What are project outcomes?
Project outcomes are the results of developing your good or service. They are the modifications to people, communities, and policies that you hope to bring about through your work. Outcomes may be positive or negative and sometimes occur unintentionally. These specific and quantifiable statements will let you know when your goal has been attained. Project outcomes concentrate more on the overall mission even though they result in creations.
For instance, when building a bookshelf, the main objective is to have a place to store your books, not to have more bookcases and wooden furniture. If the bookshelf maker is mindful of this, they will concentrate on creating a bookshelf that makes it easier for you to hold your books.
Project outcomes vs. project outputs
The materials or events produced as a result of the project are its outputs, also known as its products and deliverables. Although both project outputs and project outcomes are created from your project, they differ slightly. Here are some differences between the two:
Measurements
Since project outcomes typically involve reaching a particular number, they are simple to measure. For instance, a nonprofit organization may decide that delivering 100 free meals to students will be the project’s output.
However, because project outcomes involve bigger-picture concepts, they are harder for you to quantify and frequently have an intangible quality. In the aforementioned example, the organization’s project goal might be to reduce the number of undernourished children and encourage healthy eating practices. It can be challenging to determine whether their actions helped reduce malnourishment because these are such broad concepts.
Relationship to the project
Companies design projects by defining the project outputs—what they intend to produce—and the project outcomes—why the project is required. The project outcome is the “why” or what you need to achieve, while the project output is the “how” or action. For instance, a sustainable clothing business might decide to produce more sustainable clothing options as their output, and their result would be to offer an environmentally friendly option, luring customers who value ethics when buying clothing.
Examples of project outcomes
Here are some examples of project outcomes:
How to measure project outcomes
Follow these steps when measuring your project outcomes:
1. Define the outcome you want to achieve
You should take into account the effect you want your organization’s actions to have. Review your company’s mission and the types of clients you currently serve to accomplish this. Additionally, think about the kinds of potential customers you want to draw in and the difference you want your goods or services to make in the world. Make a list of your desired results to serve as a guide for upcoming projects. Make sure your outcome goal is SMART (specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-based) when you set it.
2. Design quantifiable measures
Create quantifiable metrics that reflect achieving your objectives to evaluate the success of your project’s outcomes. Consider setting a goal to increase your client growth by a certain percentage rate, for instance, if the objective of your project is to reach more clients. Add an action verb to the start of your project outcome statement to describe what you hope to achieve.
3. Access the relationship between your project outcomes and outputs
Examine the project’s outcomes to determine whether you achieved them by working hard or using the project’s outputs. There are times when a project’s output is successful but falls short of your goal. Check to see if the change you hoped for occurred. When measuring your results, think about using a logic model to create a visual representation of your project and determine whether you achieved the desired outcome.
4. Track your progress
It may take some time before you start to notice effects from project outcomes because they typically have a wider impact. Choose a method for tracking your progress. For instance, if you want to know how many people benefit more from an educational workshop, think about giving participants a survey before and after the event to see how much they learned.
5. Review your outcomes
Review your results after your project is finished to see how your client was affected. You can do this by collecting data measurements and comparing them to the project’s initial outcome goals. You can modify future projects based on your evaluation to produce outputs that have stronger effects on the outcome.
FAQ
What is project outcomes and outputs?
- Define the outcome you want to achieve. Think about the effect you want the actions of your organization to have.
- Design quantifiable measures. …
- Access the relationship between your project outcomes and outputs. …
- Track your progress. …
- Review your outcomes.
What is an outcome example?
The advantages that a project or intervention is intended to bring about are called outcomes. The tangible and intangible products that come from project activities are known as outputs.
What was the outcome of the project example?
Outcome definition An end result; a consequence. The outcome is what happens in the end, or how things turn out. A 2-1 victory for a team is an example of a positive result for the team. The way something turns out; result; consequence.
What are project outcomes and deliverables?
A deliverable is a particular item created as part of the project. An outcome, which is a benefit and a direct result of the project deliverables, is something more amorphous, like learning, changing, or improving.
