Method

HOW WE WORK

________________________

OUR 7 STEP
PROCESS

How we work

M

etrics for Management’s team specializes in global health and data strategies. We leverage the public health expertise of our staff, particularly in health systems strengthening, health service delivery, primary health care, and epidemiology to bring context and thoughtful consideration of the realities of working in varied settings to our collaboration.

Combined with experience in programmatic and organizational data strategy, we emphasize a user-centered design approach for all performance measurement development and application. In addition, we collaborate with seasoned managers, evaluators, program leaders, and researchers to inform our work within the global health community’s initiatives.

Our 7-step development process

  • IDENTIFY
  • CONVENE
  • PROTOTYPE
  • TEST
  • REFINE
  • PACKAGE
  • LAUNCH
1

Understand user’s performance measurement goalsto establish key data needs.

To ensure that the metric will meet the needs of all its users, Metrics for Management begins any collaboration with a comprehensive requirement gathering exercise, incorporating end user needs.

Working together, we will map out known and potential users of the metric, their current interaction with the data, and overall performance measurement goals. This analysis will help us understand what data are currently used, what data are needed, and any challenges the end users have had to date in using data and current systems.

2

Bring implementers, researchers, and funders together
to reach consensus on key aspects of the metric.

Our success relies on co-creation, bringing organizations together to agree on and work toward common metrics. We specialize in convening the right group of stakeholders, including implementers and providers, NGO leaders, researchers, policy advocates, and funders, to reach agreement on the key aspects of a standardized performance metric.

We do this through an innovative and highly interactive series of in-person activities that walks participants through the steps toward transparent consensus on measurement priorities, which vary based on the end user and aims of the metric.

3

Design metric and easy to use methods
to collect data and analyze results.

Working with our collaborators, Metrics for Management defines the data to capture and designs the user interfaces needed. We develop a metric prototype after helping determine what data to collect, where they come from, and what format is most effective.

The prototyping stage allows us to align the metric design with our collaborator’s information needs, intended use, and facility or program capacity.

We map out known and potential users of the metric, their current interaction with the data, and overall performance measurement goals. This analysis will help us understand what data are currently used, what data are needed, and any challenges the end users have had to date in using data and current systems.

4

Test solutions with an emphasis on practical application.

We work with collaborators to pilot the performance metric(s) we develop in the context in which it will be used. This pilot will provide an opportunity to test the performance metric and validate its performance with attention to feasibility, time, and cost.

5

Review metric to further improve and simplify.

Based on results of the pilot testing, Metrics for Management works to further simplify the metric. For example, during the testing phase, we may include a large number of indicators that will be reduced. Or we may find that the wording of a question should be adjusted to better pinpoint the desired data. We work with our collaborators to ensure that data collection is streamlined, as well as easy to implement and interpret.

6

Create supporting analysis, training, and technical assistance plans.

Metrics for Management designs analysis guidelines, develops training documentation, provides on-site training to use performance metrics, and produces a tailored technical assistance plan to support your organization.

We can also work with specific individuals or teams to increase the use of data and evidence-based decision-making. Often, teams see the value in engaging with available data, but may not have the time or skills to do so efficiently. Metrics for Management can help specific teams find and use the data most important to their jobs, as well as provide recommendations on what decisions to take based on that data.

7

Support implementation and promote adoption, use, and scaling of the metric.

Metrics for Management helps our collaborators interpret the results from performance metrics to ensure organizational decisions are driven by planned data use and action. In addition, we work with our partners to promote widespread adoption of the metrics, through presentations, conference sessions, publications, or other written communications.

Our careful protocol ensures continued success, facilitating the standardization of health measures to improve management and service provision.

LEARN MORE

Contact us to learn how Metrics for Management can help you use targeted, accurate, and measurable data to expand and improve your services.