Outcome Based Accountability
These pages are designed for anyone who wants to make a difference to peoples’ quality of life: in other words, who want to see positive outcomes for communities. By outcomes, I mean conditions of wellbeing such as:
- Children born healthy
- Young people having the opportunities to maximise their potential
- Healthy communities
- Safe communities
- Access to quality jobs
- Clean and sustainable environments
Few people would argue with the desirability of these outcomes yet my experience trying to achieve them has been characterised by confusion and frustration. I have sat through meetings featuring presentations laden with jargon I didn’t understand (but was too afraid to challenge); seen valuable contributions from partners being ignored; been presented with glossy strategic plans that didn’t make sense; and witnessed very little measurable improvement in the things that matter.
In this context, hearing Mark Freidman speak for the first time about the Outcome Based Accountability framework in 2002 was a revelation. He spoke of similar frustrations from his former career as a state government official in the United States. His response was to develop a method of thinking and acting together that is simple, common sense, practical and useful. And he was able to demonstrate that it worked. Since that first meeting, I have had the privilege of training and working alongside Mark Friedman who has supported my work helping to encourage organisations to use the framework in the UK. As interest in outcome based thinking in the UK grows, this work is becomingly increasingly relevant to a broader range of organisations.
I can offer half day and full day introductory training and/or refresher sessions to Outcome Based Accountability, facilitation of “Turning the Curve” exercises with stakeholders and partnerships and consultancy on using the OBA approach to designing strategies and performance managing service provision.
David is a terrific teacher and consultant. He’s one of the people I rely on to teach and coach Outcomes Based Accountability in the UK. You won’t be disappointed working with him.
Mark Freidman, Fiscal Policy Studies Institute, New Mexico, USA
For more information about Outcome Based Accountability please CLICK HERE to access the “Outcome Pages”.