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Module B > Desired outcomes  
 

Desired Results 

Spelling out desired results (outcomes of the solution that answer the needs)

What do you want to happen as a result of the program? Picture the way a participant would look if you succeeded. (What behavior, knowledge, attitude or skill would you see them demonstrating?)

If you can’t picture what success will look like, then how will you know if you’ve succeeded? How can you explain your success to the public? Your funders? Your future collaborators? 

Tip: When you write out your desired outcomes, start your sentence with the people who are the target audience and use a verb that points to observable change. That is, use sentence structure to help you “put the end user first.”

Not: “Art lessons incorporate critical thinking”

Instead: “Teachers write lesson plans using art to teach critical thinking.”

Let’s look at an example of listing observable changes, or “outcomes” that you believe the audience will demonstrate as a result of your program.

Library example: Spelling out desired results

Do you think the solutions are likely to lead to the desired outcomes? Do the outcomes meet the needs?

"Needs" : Riverton residents want a writers’ group for critique and review of autobiographical writing.

"Solutions" : Hire a facilitator to guide critiques of writers’ work and revisions. Schedule group discussion with three Kentucky writers of autobiography. Arrange publication and public reading of selections from each participant.

"Desired Outcomes" : Participants improve their writing.  Participants demonstrate they feel themselves to be part of a community of writers.

Review

"Needs" + "Solutions" = "Desired Outcomes"

Needs are met by solutions planned to deliver desired outcomes to target audiences.

Outcomes Based Planning and Evaluation helps libraries serve the public good by benefiting their end users.

Now let’s look at how Outcomes Based Planning and Evaluation helps plan and demonstrate those results with stakeholders: people who care and want to know about the outcomes.

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