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Term | Definition |
activities | the procedures involved in, or action steps taken, to implement a plan or to carry out a program. |
benchmark | a standard or reference point against
which something is measured. The term is used in two different ways: in conjunction with the setting of long-term goals for a broad range of societal and economic policies, and as a measure of efficiency in comparing key aspects of an organization’s performance with that of similar organizations. |
bundle | a group of needs, services and/or service providers combined or “bundled” together to appeal to a certain donor (customer) segment. |
business plan | a document prepared for a program or
organization that describes its objectives and identifies the
activities it will undertake to meet those objectives, the allocation
of resources to those activities, and the measures that will be used
to indicate progress toward the achievement of the objectives. A business plan may include statements of relevance, the links to government direction, a client profile, and information on contingency plans. |
business strategy – organizational |
defines aims and sets goals a statement of the organization’s reason for being (vision, mission and high level goals) with a clear image of the organization, and a plan for its growth and improvement so that it can better fulfill it’s purpose. |
client | someone outside or within an organization who receives and uses its products and services. Government distinguishes between external and internal clients. |
coalition | a temporary alliance of distinct
parties, persons, or states for joint action. A coalition requires that all participants have a clear set of expectations and get together regularly to develop a friendly working relationship. A coalition works best when established for a specific project, and then allowed to lapse when the project ends. |
community needs | term used in the broadest sense |
critical success factors | the conditions that have to be in
place in order to succeed. A handful of the critical elements of a plan, without which the plan is unlikely to succeed. |
customer | the people or groups who are targets of your organization’s product and service offerings. |
distribution channel | the paths, media, or mechanism through which the organization reaches potential donors with its marketing messages and through which donors respond. |
donor satisfaction | an organizational measure, usually by way of a survey, of the extent to which donors feel their needs and expectations have been met in their dealings with your organization. |
donor segment | a group of like minded donors whose giving behavior is very similar to one another, and different from other groups, and who respond to similar needs, services or service providers. |
effectiveness | the extent to which a program or service is meeting its stated objective and an aspect of performance that describes how well the organization’s activities are contributing to achieving the intended outcome. |
efficiency | an aspect of performance that
describes the relationship between inputs and outputs or outcomes or
the relationship of inputs to inputs (examples: cost per client
served; equipment costs per square mile of brushed cleared; management
to staff). The ratio of the quantity of resources (inputs of time, labor, money, etc.) expected to be consumed in producing outputs of results under ideal conditions to the actual quantity of resources used. |
evaluation | the assessment of results, impacts and
effects (both intended and unintended) of a program or policy. Evaluation may also address the extent to which the policy or program continues to serve a useful purpose and whether there are more cost-effective alternatives available to achieve the same result. Evaluation includes such techniques as peer review, case studies, surveys and cost – benefit analysis. |
feasibility | Feasibility Study* Analysis to determine if a course of action is possible within the terms of reference of the project. Feasibility Phase* The project phase that demonstrates that the client’s requirement can be achieved and identifies and evaluates the options to determine the one preferred solution. |
feasibility study | A study to assess the viability of a potential
project. It includes a cost/benefit analysis and results in the development of a Feasibility Report that is developed as a result of a feasibility study, and is presented to senior management to determine whether a project has sufficient merit to continue into more detailed phases. |
goal | a general statement of desired results to be achieved over an unspecified period of time; the aim or object towards which a project or endeavor is directed; end; target; applied to large, long(er) term targets “attained only by prolonged effort or hardship”. |
governance | the directing and controlling of an entity’s direction and performance (entire manner entity is run: ethics and values, strategies, systems and accountability to government. |
impact | the result of program activities as felt by clients and society. Impacts research has demonstrated a causal link between the intervention and the result may be positive or negative. |
initiative | a new program; a project. |
inputs | the resources available to carry out a program (examples: number of hospital beds; number of full-time employees; amount of funding per student). |
key | major; essential; crucial; significant. |
key performance indicator (KPI) |
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mission | a statement of business direction that should also include for whom services will be delivered and how services are to be delivered; the formal statement of the fundamental purpose of an organization or unit, which defines the customers who the organization intends to serve and the value you will provide to your customers; value the organization promises to provide for the customer. |
mission/vision statement | gives concrete expression to the
Vision statement, explaining how it is to be achieved. The mission statement for this site is: ‘To provide a well-structured, accessible, concise survey of the best and most appropriate mind tools available’. |
objective | statement of specific measurable or observable results to be achieved over a specified period of time. It answers both “what” and “when,” quantitatively. sub-goals; describe the intended end effect of action, not the action steps or means; must be specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time bound—SMART. |
offer
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market ready bundle which consists of a single or multiple packages of needs, services or service providers and which is “packaged” together with all the necessary communications and supporting material to be offered in a “market-ready” state to a specific set of customers through a defined channel. |
organizational culture | the underlying assumptions, beliefs, values, attitudes, and expectations shared by the members of an organization. the green slime found on lunches left in the lunchroom fridge for an excessive period. |
organizational structure | the framework around which the
group is organized. It is the operating manual that tells members how
the organization is put together and how it works. More specifically, structure describes how members are accepted, how leadership is chosen, and how decisions get made. |
outcomes |
measurable consequences of a program’s outputs,
impacts on the client or the public, and the results of the outputs
(examples: percentage of graduates who find meaningful employment and
make a positive contribution to society; number of citizens who enjoy
improved health and a better quality of life because of early cancer
detection; level of pollutants in ambient air tests; reduction in fatal
road accidents through stricter enforcement of speeding regulations). Outcomes may be immediate, ultimate or somewhere in between. generally indicates that there is a strong logical connection between intervention and results, making it plausible to believe that the intervention influence the result even though the link has not been tested statistically. the benefits and other long-term changes that are sought from undertaking a project. Project outcomes are achieved from the utilization of the outputs delivered by a project. |
outputs | measurable, direct results of activities, such as products or services provided (examples: percent of students who graduate from high school; number of teens counseled about teen pregnancy; emissions reduced by auto exhaust repairs; number of tickets issued for speeding). |
package | a verb—the act of converting a bundle to an offer, by adding all the necessary communication and support materials required to make making the bundle fully market market-ready |
performance agreement | an agreement between
organizational levels that sets out performance targets to which the
organization’s units must contribute. These agreements are for a specified time period and reflect strategic priorities. |
performance goal | the target level of performance
expressed as a tangible, measurable objective, against which actual
achievement can be compared, including a goal expressed as a
quantitative standard, value, or rate. Performance goal and performance target are often used interchangeably, although the latter is usually the more specific or detailed of the two. |
performance indicator | a quantitative parameter used to
ascertain the degree of performance. Often misused as a synonym for performance measure. A performance indicator is less precise than a performance measure and usually provides only an intermediate measure of achievement. |
performance management | the use of performance measurement information to help set agreed-upon performance goals, allocate and prioritize resources, inform managers to either confirm or change current policy or program directions to meet those goals, and report on the success in meeting those goals. |
performance management system | outlines the key elements and
connection underlying the establishment and implementation of
performance management in an organization. These elements and connections include performance planning, target setting, negotiating performance agreements and contracts, measuring and monitoring performance, reporting and feedback. The framework provides guidance as opposed to detailed processes and procedures. |
performance measure | a statement specifying, clearly and precisely, a desired output, outcome or event that is expected to occur; the “what” that is to be measured. |
performance measurement | process of assessing progress in
achieving pre-determined goals. It includes measures of the economy of acquiring resources; the efficiency with which those resources are transformed into goods and services (outputs); the quality of those outputs (such as how well they are delivered to clients and the extent to which clients are satisfied); and the effectiveness of government operations in terms of their specific contributions to the objectives of the programs. |
performance target | see performance goal. |
policy |
a strategy that defines the way
the organization does business. Policies are designed to achieve goals, often not directly related to a program (such as, employment equity policy), and realize the vision. |
process (business processes) |
a set of logically related tasks
performed to achieve a defined business outcome; generally identified in
terms of beginning and end points, interfaces, and organization units
involved. a structured, measured set of activities designed to produce a specified output for a particular customer or market. It implies a strong emphasis on how work is done within an organization. Processes have two important characteristics:
business process is a process in a
value chain whose activities add value to the products of that chain. |
program | a set of activities having clearly defined, dedicated resources and measurable objectives that are coherent and consistent. |
program evaluation | the objective assessment of the effectiveness and efficiency of a program; also see Evaluation. |
project charter |
The Project Charter formally
describes and authorizes work to be performed on a project, phase, or
set of phases. It indicates the customer’s approval of the definition and the agreement to accept charges for project expenses, up to an approved amount. |
risk |
chance of something happening
that will have an impact upon objectives. Measured in terms of consequences and likelihood. |
risk management | The culture, processes, and structures that are directed towards the effective management of potential opportunities and adverse effects—it is a decision process for managing uncertainties and effectively allocating resources. |
stakeholder | an individual or group outside your organization who is likely to be significantly affected by your organization’s decisions or activities and whose actions in turn may affect the success of your organization’s decisions and activities. |
strategic intent | a broad, high-level formal statement that defines what you intend your organization to become and achieve as you pursue your mission. |
strategic plan |
a high-level corporate document
that sets the organization’s course and priorities for a prolonged
period. A strategy usually includes formal statements that define outlines vision, mission, values, and key priorities for the medium to long term, and sets out strategies for achieving goals and defined objectives. |
strategic plan | a high-level corporate document that outlines vision, mission, values and key priorities for the medium to long term, and sets out strategies for achieving goals and objectives. |
strategy | the planned approach for successfully achieving the goal. |
tactical initiative |
a planned, directed and controlled program of actions to achieve an aim or goal. |
tactics | planned, directed and controlled actions used to achieve an aim or task; plans followed to achieve an aim or tasks. |
value chain | a linked series of value-adding services in the conversion of information, labour, and/or materials to a product or service with a higher state of value than the original inputs. |
value chain links | discrete value-producing services in the value chain that produce value for the customer for which customer the is willing to pay. |
vision | a snapshot statement defining the preferred future in general terms. |
vision/mission statement | expresses the benefit that an organization will provide to its customers. |
Contributed by … |
Mary Prodanovic, Manager, Business Transformation, VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation |
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