understanding impact statements session 66
Post on 30-Dec-2015
23 Views
Preview:
DESCRIPTION
TRANSCRIPT
Understanding Understanding Impact StatementsImpact StatementsSession 66Session 66
Bret W. Hess Bret W. Hess Director Director
Wyoming Agricultural Experiment StationWyoming Agricultural Experiment Station
Revised 2010Revised 2010
Demand for Increased Demand for Increased AccountabilityAccountability
Government Performance and Results Act Government Performance and Results Act of 1993 (GPRA)of 1993 (GPRA) Required an accountability system based on Required an accountability system based on
performance measurement, including setting goals performance measurement, including setting goals and objectives and measuring progress toward and objectives and measuring progress toward achieving themachieving them
AREERA of 1998AREERA of 1998 Required Plans of Work, Annual ReportsRequired Plans of Work, Annual Reports
President’s Management Agenda - 2001President’s Management Agenda - 2001 The Performance Assessment Rating Tool The Performance Assessment Rating Tool
(PART) (PART) (http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/part/)(http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/part/)
Assessment based resource allocationsAssessment based resource allocations
What is Impact?What is Impact?
The quantifiable difference a program The quantifiable difference a program makes in the quality of life for its users.makes in the quality of life for its users.
A measurable change in condition.A measurable change in condition. Quantitative, measurable benefits of Quantitative, measurable benefits of
the research outputs as experienced by the research outputs as experienced by those who receive them.those who receive them.
- - However, the challenge has been to However, the challenge has been to assess, determine and effectively assess, determine and effectively communicate the impacts of our communicate the impacts of our efforts.efforts.
Simply put, impact Simply put, impact statements answer the statements answer the questions:questions:
So what?So what?Who cares?Who cares?
andand
Why?Why?
Who cares?Who cares?
The PublicThe PublicCongressCongress Federal, state and local officialsFederal, state and local officials StakeholdersStakeholders External funding sourcesExternal funding sources Industry representativesIndustry representativesCollege leadershipCollege leadership
Why does their opinion Why does their opinion matter?matter?
Seeking quantifiable benefits of Seeking quantifiable benefits of programsprograms
Have competition for their attention Have competition for their attention and moneyand money
Exercise some type of control over Exercise some type of control over your programsyour programs
““The Golden Rule”!!!! $$$$$$$$$$$$The Golden Rule”!!!! $$$$$$$$$$$$
What is an Impact What is an Impact Statement?Statement?
A brief summary in lay terms that A brief summary in lay terms that describes the difference that your efforts describes the difference that your efforts have made.have made. Highlights the difference your program is Highlights the difference your program is
making for the public good.making for the public good. Concisely summarizes what you did to Concisely summarizes what you did to
achieve this difference.achieve this difference. Clearly states payoffs to society.Clearly states payoffs to society. Answers key questions: So what? Who cares? Answers key questions: So what? Who cares?
Why?Why?
University of Wisconsin-Extension, Program Development and Evaluation
Impacts in the context of the Logic Model
What we do
Who we reach
What results
INPUTS OUTPUTS OUTCOMES
Program investments
Activities Participation Short Medium
What we invest
Long Term
Impacts
ISSUE
OutcomesOutcomes
Adoption of technologyAdoption of technology Creation of jobsCreation of jobs Reduced cost to the consumerReduced cost to the consumer Less pesticide exposure to farmersLess pesticide exposure to farmers Access to more nutritious foodAccess to more nutritious food Cleaner environment and healthier Cleaner environment and healthier
communities communities
Reports, publications, patents, data, Reports, publications, patents, data, workshops or informationworkshops or information
Description of the program or processDescription of the program or processNumber of persons attending a meetingNumber of persons attending a meetingNumber of persons enrolled in a programNumber of persons enrolled in a program
These are outputs!!!These are outputs!!!
IMPACT
Elements of a good Impact Elements of a good Impact Statement?Statement?
It illustrates change in at least one It illustrates change in at least one of the following:of the following:– Economic value or efficiencyEconomic value or efficiency– Environmental qualityEnvironmental quality– Societal/individual well-beingSocietal/individual well-being
An Impact Statement An Impact Statement relating to economic returnrelating to economic return
Five years ago, Anderson County pork Five years ago, Anderson County pork producers spent $17 more than the state producers spent $17 more than the state average to raise a market hog. We helped average to raise a market hog. We helped them improve their record keeping and them improve their record keeping and production practices, and costs dropped production practices, and costs dropped by $20 to $3.19 BELOW the state by $20 to $3.19 BELOW the state average. Each farm’s profit increased average. Each farm’s profit increased $345,000 over five years, bringing more $345,000 over five years, bringing more hogs, more jobs, and more spending to hogs, more jobs, and more spending to the county.the county.
An Impact Statement An Impact Statement relating to environmental relating to environmental qualityqualityChopped waste paper is an economical Chopped waste paper is an economical substitute for wood chips commonly used as substitute for wood chips commonly used as bedding by the horse industry. Our bedding by the horse industry. Our scientists have found that the paper absorbs scientists have found that the paper absorbs moisture better too. By using some of the moisture better too. By using some of the 76 million tons of paper Americans throw 76 million tons of paper Americans throw away each year, researchers can reduce away each year, researchers can reduce landfill demands, save a few trees and keep landfill demands, save a few trees and keep horses comfy all at once.horses comfy all at once.
Can this be improved, if so how??Can this be improved, if so how??
An Impact Statement An Impact Statement relating to health and relating to health and social wellbeingsocial wellbeing
Social/Individual wellbeing… (health)Social/Individual wellbeing… (health)
No standards exist for wooden basketball, dance No standards exist for wooden basketball, dance and aerobics floors. So, we’re setting them. Our and aerobics floors. So, we’re setting them. Our scientists study the role of floor type and scientists study the role of floor type and construction in chronic-use injuries that often make construction in chronic-use injuries that often make people stop exercising. Computer models predict people stop exercising. Computer models predict how a floor reacts to various forces or how a floor reacts to various forces or environmental changes. Those predictions, and environmental changes. Those predictions, and what doctors know about chronic athletic injuries, what doctors know about chronic athletic injuries, bring a prescription for safer exercise for athletes of bring a prescription for safer exercise for athletes of all ages and abilities.all ages and abilities.Can this be improved, if so how??Can this be improved, if so how??
Reporting potential Reporting potential impact...impact...
Potential impact should be Potential impact should be considered, especially in basic considered, especially in basic research and teaching or youth research and teaching or youth education work.education work.
Example of “potential Example of “potential impact”impact”
We bought special software for We bought special software for classroom computers. The students classroom computers. The students learned to analyze the total true learned to analyze the total true cost of producing food products. cost of producing food products. Using the same software industry Using the same software industry uses makes these students ready uses makes these students ready for the job market and ready to for the job market and ready to enhance the food industry.enhance the food industry.
Additional Resources Additional Resources Google “writing impact statements”Google “writing impact statements”
Writing Extension Impact Statements Writing Extension Impact Statements http://web.utk.edu/~aee/impactstatements.htm
Impact Statements Impact Statements http://www.ca.uky.edu/agpsd/impact.htm
Impact Statements for ResearchersImpact Statements for Researchershttp://www.maes.msu.edu/intranet/Report_impact.htm
Writing Effective Impact Statements: Who Writing Effective Impact Statements: Who Cares? So What?Cares? So What?
http://www.cals.vt.edu/communications/writingimpactstatements.html
top related