One aspect of a performance measure’s clarity is to provide a clear frame of reference for comparison. Whether using a longitudinal, benchmark, or other methods of comparison, the measurement should support the goals for improvement. Careful preparation of useful data is essential to measure the outcomes and reveal key insights.
Performance measurements should be published periodically so that such information can be used in decision-making and accountability processes. Programs can develop different sets of measurements if long-term goals are difficult to report periodically. Provision of both intermediate and end-outcome indicators will allow you to measure and focus the program.
While it is necessary to review and revise measures during implementation, these measures should remain consistent over time. This necessity directly contributes to the increased relevance and comparability qualities of the measures. To measure the success of a best practices program, continuity of purpose must exist over time.
Above all else, the performance measures must be reliable. The idea of reliability is that results must be testable and repeatable. Reliability and validity are at the core of what is accepted as proof.