Results-based management (RBM) is a management approach with a core focus on achieving results.
The Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS) defines RBM as a “management strategy by which processes, outputs and services contribute to the achievement of clearly stated expected accomplishments and objectives.
The aim of RBM is to improve management effectiveness and accountability by defining realistic expected results, monitoring progress toward the achievement of expected results, integrating lessons learned into management decisions and reporting on performance”.
Commonly used in the Non-Governmental Organisation’s sector the RBM can be applied in project management process within organisations.
The RBM is based on six principles discussed below as follows:
- Simplicity: Identifying a strategy that is easy to understand and easy to put into practice. This is achieved using simple tools to help with project design, management and achieving the set-out results.
- Action learning: with RBM integrated in the learning cycle what the teams learn by doing and this enables to strengthen capacities, improve the quality of projects to achieve better results.
The learning cycle is inclusive as all stakeholders are empowered through learning and participation.
- A flexible method: as RBM can be adapted to different contexts and projects. RBM can also be applied on already running projects.
- Partnership: Partners and stakeholders to a project is critical throughout the project phases of formation, execution, monitoring and evaluation.
When all partners are involved in the project process such as new product development there will ownership of the results and the product itself.
- Accountability, is achieved by sharing responsibilities between the various stakeholders. Participative decision making is important, as well as defining responsibilities and tasks of stakeholders.
- Transparency: is achieved by using well designed and chosen indicators. This makes it possible to give a clear image of what the project is doing and where it is going.
RBM introduces the Performance Framework to clearly identify objectives, how their progress will be measured and who will be responsible for what actions.
RBM is a management strategy that focuses on the result chain, a structured logic model showing the sequence and the necessary steps to achieve stated objectives starting with inputs which support activities to generate outputs, outcomes, and impacts.
A results chain is a tool that shows how a project team believes a particular action it takes will lead to some desired result.
The results chain.
- Impact- Positive and negative, intended, or unintended long-term results produced by the adaptation fund activities, either directly or indirectly.
The desired future state of a conservation target. A goal is a formal statement of the desired impact.
- Outcome- the medium-term results of an operation’s output. The desired future state of a threat or opportunity factor. An objective is a formal statement of the desired outcome.
- Output – the measurable products resulting from an adaptation project that are relevant to the achievement of outcomes.
A well-planned project will ensure that the outputs that are being monitored are closely linked to outcomes and the outcomes, to the expected impact.
By monitoring the link between the outputs and outcomes during the project lifecycle, management understands how the project is progressing.
Results-based management has a number of benefits which include
- Clearly defined goals which all team members can understand
- Organisational resources will be focused on the right tasks
- Employee morale, engagement and loyalty will improve
- Empowers employees to be the best they can be
- Any weak links in the system are exposed
- Cross functional inefficiencies are reduced due to clearly defined goals
- Increase in profitability.
There are many other benefits of results based management which business leader’s can leverage on for the benefit of their organisation.
The results based management approach to performance management enables managers to focus on the end result instead of the day to day activities which may not yield the desired results. This helps teams to focus on the end more than on the means of achieving goals.
Chiedza Kadare is an OD Practitioner. You can get in touch with her on WhatsApp/call +263 77 283 0986 or Email chiedza.kadare@gmail.com
Paul Nyausaru is an OD Practitioner and leadership coach. For all your OD interventions and leadership development training you can get in touch with him on WhatsApp/call +263774062756 or Email pnyausaru@gmail.com
