The following tables list a variety of different examples of activities, outputs, outcomes and performance measures that economic development and agri-food organizations might use. It is not an exhaustive list. Use it for guidance only as the performance measures needed for an organization should be tailored to their unique needs.

Sample 1: advocacy (or representation)

Advocate to governments for increased consideration in policy decisions and for policy changes on behalf of members, the sector and/or the industry. This could include collaborating with a variety of different organizations on research, analysis and other projects that might influence future policy development.

Activities and outputs: What products and services are offered? How are these outputs measured?

Outcomes: What medium-term and/or medium-term to long-term changes are desired as a result of the organization’s efforts? How are these outcomes measured?

Activities

Outputs/output measures

Medium term outcomes

Outcome measures

Medium term to long term outcomes

Outcome measures

Monitor regulations and potential effect on the sector

Produce brochures and other materials

Hold/sponsor networking events with government officials

Produce and distribute electronic materials

Sponsor members and staff to participate in networking opportunities

Invite government officials to speak at events, to network with the organization

Sponsor/hold field days with government officials, such as breakfast on the farm

Studies commissioned Reviews completed by experts Stakeholder consultations

Distribute results to organizations, government, academia and individual businesses

 

  • Number of brochures and other materials produced and distributed
  • Number of distribution channels for brochures
  • Number of communications produced and published - e.g., articles in newspapers, farm magazines, industry publications, blog posts
  • Number of hits to website and downloads of materials
  • Number of conferences attended by organization where government officials were present
  • Number of meetings with senior government officials/politicians
  • Number of networking events / workshops attended by organization where government officials were present (networking)
  • Number of workshops and events hosted by organization where government was invited to participate.
  • Number of staff consultations and advocacy

Fully informed policy makers on issues or effects

Fully informed industry on issues or effects

Increased interaction and networking between government and organization members

Increased awareness by government of organization’s needs

Increased willingness to act

Unified voice accurately representing the needs of the sector

Improved media coverage - more accurate information increased positive publicity

  • Number and type of invitations by government to organization to participate in policy planning initiatives - stakeholder engagement
  • Number of networking events with government officials by organization
  • Number of government officials in attendance at networking events
  • Number of government guest speakers at organization events
  • Number of workshop participants, including government officials, reporting increased awareness of industry or organizational needs
  • Positive feedback obtained from key stakeholders
  • Number of positive mentions in media

Changes in policies / programs / regulations for which the organization is advocating such as reduced regulatory burden, business risk management cap, farmer safety programs

Increased resources allocated to sector priorities such as staff, funding

Established communications network between government and organization

Increased consideration of organization or industry needs in future policy decisions

  • Number of and percentage of recommendations adopted
  • Achievement and implementation of desired legislative or policy changes
  • Agreements or partnerships established for future work, such as establishment of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)
  • Decreased need for advocacy resources about future policies being implemented

Sample 2: community economic development services

Provide services to the local business community and related stakeholders.

Activites and outputs: What products and services are offered? How are these outputs measured?

Outcomes: What medium-term and/or medium-term to long-term changes are desired as a result of the organization’s efforts? How are these outcomes measured?

Activities

Outputs/output measures

Medium term outcomes

Outcome measures

Medium term to long term outcomes

  • Advice & assistance
  • Education or training
  • Cost share funding programs
  • Inspection and enforcement
  • Awareness campaigns/ marketing and communications
  • Certification options
  • Facilitation/events
  • Stakeholder engagement
  • Transfer payment/third party delivery
  • Industry/community partnership/engagement
  • Federal/ provincial/ municipal partnerships

“Implementation” data about what the program does:

  • Materials distributed
  • Services provided
  • Events held
  • Funding provided
  • Knowledge transferred
  • Policies/regulations created

“Expect to see” changes in learning:

  • Awareness
  • Knowledge/skills
  • Attitude/values
  • Perception/opinions
  • Aspirations/intentions
  • Motivation/readiness

Want to see” taking action:

  • Adoption of new practices/behaviour over time
  • Business innovations
  • Developed skills
  • Business start-ups
  • Diverse businesses
  • Jobs
  • Brand recognition
  • Advocacy

Public value (captured as fundamental changes in condition):

  • economic (growth/sustainability)
  • prosperity (improved income/capita)
  • social/human (healthy/skilled workforce)
  • environmental (greener businesses)

What are the main things the program will do/provide?

How well are we using resources in relation to outputs/outcomes achieved?

How many and what sort of observable/ tangible results will be achieved?

What will occur as a direct result of the activities & outputs?

What results should follow from the initial outcomes?

What results should follow the intermediate outcomes?

Sample 3: direct member services

Provide services to members (e.g. insurance, helping with the cost of production, with discounts on capital etc.)

Activities and outputs: What products and services are offered? How are these outputs measured?

Outcomes: What medium-term and/or medium-term to long-term changes are desired as a result of the organization’s efforts? How are these outcomes measured?

Activities

Outputs/output measures

Medium term outcomes

Outcome measures

Medium term to long term outcomes

Outcome measures

Insurance on assets

Discounts on capital needed for production (e.g. machinery, seed)

Other direct services (graphic design, construction, shipping, etc.)

  • Number of services received
  • Quantity of discounts received

Time savings

Ability to meet policy and legal requirements

Cost savings

  • Time saved as a result of external service provider
  • Number of legal or policy requirements met
  • Value of cost savings as a result of services provided

Increased profitability of members

Increase in member ability to comply with regulations

Loyalty established with service providers

  • Percentage decrease in costs associated with services administered
  • Decrease in time and cost required to comply with regulations
  • Percentage decrease in time required to find new service providers

Sample 4: knowledge transfer and translation

Share new and existing information, knowledge and technology through networking events, initiatives and technologies.

Activities and outputs: What products and services are offered? How are these outputs measured?

Outcomes: What medium-term and/or medium-term to long-term changes are desired as a result of the organization’s efforts? How are these outcomes measured?

Activities

Outputs/output measures

Medium term outcomes

Outcome measures

Medium term to long term outcomes

Outcome measures

Booth at workshops and networking events with brochures

Presentations at workshops and conferences

Allocation of funds to support promotional workshops

Newsletter articles and social media presence

Meetings with key members of the sector and government bodies

Online web page resource

  • Number of workshops and networking events attended
  • Number of presentations delivered
  • Percentage increase in funding for promotional workshops
  • Reach of social media pages
  • Number of newsletter articles
  • Number of brochures handed out
  • Number of meetings with industry and government
  • Percentage increase in website traffic
  • Percentage increase in social media hits

New technology and knowledge is adopted

Increased awareness of how to access new information

New routes for knowledge transfer developed

Reduced operating costs

Increase in funding program applications

  • Number of new technologies adopted
  • Percentage decrease in required education of where to find resource materials
  • Number of routes of knowledge transfer
  • Percentage decrease in operating costs
  • Percentage increase in number of organizations applying for funding

Knowledge transfer routes are easier, more efficient

Increased adoption of tools and training

Increase in shared technology throughout sector

Increased amount of product available to meet demand

Increased profitability of sector through current technology

Percentage decrease in annual cost of knowledge transfer

  • Percentage annual increase in new tools and training adoption
  • Number of markets expanded and/or new markets accessed
  • Percentage increase in sales and exports
  • Percentage increase in jobs in sector

Sample 5: marketing

Advocate and negotiate on behalf of organization/commodity groups for fair prices, contracts, processes, etc. with marketing boards and other organizations. Plan production, grade, pack, transport, store, distribute, advertise and sale of agricultural products.

Activities and outputs: What products and services are offered? How are these outputs measured?

Outcomes: What medium-term and/or medium-term to long-term changes are desired as a result of the organization’s efforts? How are these outcomes measured?

Activities

Outputs/output measures

Medium term outcomes

Outcome measures

Medium term to long term outcomes

Outcome measures

Meet with agri-food processors, government agency (e.g. OFPMC) and government

Marketing tools suited for organization/commodity groups

Negotiations led by experienced negotiators

New contracts with different processors, government, etc.

 

  • Number of participants in meetings with external parties
  • Outreach of marketing campaigns
  • Percentage decrease in organizational time required for advocating and negotiating
  • Number of new contracts with processors, government, etc.

Increased awareness of organization/sector products

Increase in sales of product

Fair product prices to cover cost of production

Contractual agreements better suited to the needs of represented groups

  • Percentage increase in sales
  • Percentage increase in negotiated market price for agricultural commodity (marketing boards)
  • Percentage increase in export sales
  • Percentage increase in product margins
  • Percentage increase in consumption
  • Percentage decrease in internal planning and marketing costs
  • Percentage increase in outreach of marketing initiatives

Increased global awareness of represented groups and the sector as a whole

Standards are implemented for smoother negotiations

Growth of the sector (increased profitability)

  • Percentage increase in sales and exports
  • Percentage increase in jobs in sector
  • Percentage decrease in resources required for negotiations
  • Percentage increase in sector recognition

Sample 6: member education and capacity building

Provide members access to information in order to build capacity for various activities (e.g. marketing, environmental stewardship, regulatory requirements, business risk management, etc.)

Activities and outputs: What products and services are offered? How are these outputs measured?

Outcomes: What medium-term and/or medium-term to long-term changes are desired as a result of the organization’s efforts? How are these outcomes measured?

Activities

Outputs/output measures

Medium term outcomes

Outcome measures

Medium term to long term outcomes

Outcome measures

Education and training workshops Sponsorship of conference speakers

Sponsorship for education, training, field trips and education days

Booths at domestic and international conferences

Website and other social media content produced

Agriculture and agri-food business tools developed

Sponsorship of members to attend education events

Agriculture and agri-food training and accredited courses

  • Number of members participating in various activities/events
  • Number of speakers sponsored (international, domestic)
  • Number of members using networks for their career advancement
  • Number of members applying for and taking training
  • Number of members accredited in a  particular area
  • Number of hits to website/social media sites
  • Number of downloads of information / education material
  • Number of requests for information and education material

Increased awareness by members of new technologies, knowledge, practices, etc.

Increased intentions to adopt new practices and technologies

Increased understanding of the merits of capacity building

Consumer attitudes change

  • Percentage of target audience who completed a workshop
  • Percentage or number of participants satisfied with the quality of provided activities
  • Percentage or number of participants who would recommend workshop to others
  • Number of members reporting increased awareness of regulations, programs, policies, etc.
  • Number of members reporting intention to adopt/implement best management practices

Increased adoption of new practices and technologies

Increased production efficiencies

Increased adherence to regulations

Reduced operating costs (and larger gross margin)

Increased capability to comply with regulations and manage risk

Increased market access

  • Number of members reporting adoption/implementation of best management practices over two to five years
  • Number of members reporting efficiency gains
  • Reduction in cost of production per agri-food product
  • Reduction of risk-borne setbacks to profitability
  • Number of markets expanded and or new markets accessed
  • Dollar amount and percentage increase in sales

Sample 7: promotion and public education

Promote agri-food products to the public and inform public about sector/member activities, outputs, etc. (Similar to advocacy.)

Activities and outputs: What products and services are offered? How are these outputs measured?

Outcomes: What medium-term and/or medium-term to long-term changes are desired as a result of the organization’s efforts? How are these outcomes measured?

Activities

Outputs/output measures

Medium term outcomes

Outcome measures

Medium term to long term outcomes

Outcome measures

Booth at workshops and networking events with brochures

Presentations at workshops and conferences

Newsletter articles and social media

Brochures for the organization

Meetings with agri-food processors, government agency (OFPMC) and government

Introduction of agri-food education into public school curriculum

  • Number of workshops and networking events attended
  • Number of presentations delivered
  • Percentage increase in funding for promotional workshops
  • Reach of social media pages
  • Number of references from members of the public on social media
  • Number of newsletter articles
  • Number of brochures handed out
  • Number of meetings with industry members
  • Number of schools incorporating agri-food education into curriculum

Increased awareness of organization/sector products

Increase in sales of product

Fair product prices to cover cost of production

Better understanding of sector activities

  • Number of members reporting increased awareness of organization and industry needs
  • Number or percentage increase in customers at farmers’ markets, agri- tourism region, agri-food site, etc.
  • Percentage increase in sales
  • Percentage increase in export sales

Increased global awareness of represented groups and the sector as a whole

Growth of the sector (Increased profitability)

Benchmarks set for fair pricing long-term

Understanding of the agri-food sector among future generations

  • Percentage increase in sales and exports
  • Percentage increase in jobs in sector
  • Percentage increase in sector recognition
  • Increase in average prices annually

Sample 8: research

Support/conduct research to support growth and sustainability of sector. Investments in research.

Activities and outputs: What products and services are offered? How are these outputs measured?

Outcomes: What medium-term and/or medium-term to long-term changes are desired as a result of the organization’s efforts? How are these outcomes measured?

Activities

Outputs/output measures

Medium term outcomes

Outcome measures

Medium term to long term outcomes

Outcome measures

Funded research projects (by organization)

Research workshops and other venues for establishing research networks

Partner with research institutions to engage in research

Participation in research by organization and members

Partnerships (in-kind, cash) to conduct research

Funded research grants

  • Amount of investment in external research
  • Number of research projects funded by organizations
  • Number of research grants approved
  • Success of meeting research project milestones
  • Percentage of allocation of research funds
  • Number of collaborative research partnerships
  • Number of undergraduate and graduate students funded and trained

New knowledge, information and technologies supported by organization

New research opportunities are easier to identify

Research opportunities are expanded due to grant funding

  • Number or percentage of members indicating satisfaction with research directions / priorities
  • Number of peer-reviewed publications as a result of research project
  • Number of other publications
  • Number of members reporting knowledge of research findings
  • Number of conference presentations and proceedings
  • Number of completed theses/degrees related to research project
  • Milestones met and projects completed
  • Percentage of decrease in time required to identify new research opportunities
  • Number of new research projects undertaken

New knowledge, information and technologies to advance sector are developed

Increased innovation within the sector

New technologies implemented by members

Increases in productivity (or whatever the goal is)

Enhanced research capacity in the sector

Research is conducted at a more efficient pace

Enhanced relevance of research, targeted to specific weak areas

  • Number or percentage of members adopting /incorporating information and techniques into practices
  • Number of new or improved processes or products
  • Number or percentage of participants reporting benefits of adopting new practices
  • Patents applied for as a result of research
  • Percentage decrease in time required to complete research projects

Logic model development: understanding the benefits, effects and consequences of your work as the first step in developing performance measures

Inputs - what you invest

Activities/processes -what you do

Outputs: deliverables - what you produce or provide

Outputs: participation of the target audience - who you are working with or for

Short-term outcomes

Medium-term outcomes

Long-term outcomes

  • Financial resources
  • Staff (Number of FTE/PTE)
  • Scientific and technical competency of staff
  • Advisory and facilitation skill of staff
  • Leadership
  • Administrative support
  • Time and budget
  • Equipment, technology
  • Supporters, partners or stakeholders
  • Legislation and regulations
  • Demand or work coming in that drives activities
  • Other programs
  • Provide advice
  • Offer or deliver training
  • Provide funding for projects
  • Publish and/or provide resources
  • Market and communicate
  • Advocate on behalf of others
  • Promote programs
  • Engage with stakeholders
  • Manager agreements
  • Collaborate or partner with industry, community groups
  • Partner with federal, provincial or municipal governments
  • Materials distributed
  • Services provided
  • Workshops or events held
  • Awareness campaigns completed
  • Funding provided
  • Knowledge transferred
  • New technology shared

Who are you producing outputs for or providing services to?

Who are the participants in a program or beneficiaries both direct and indirect?

You may engage with the following groups:

  • clients
  • members
  • internal or external stakeholders
  • other associations
  • industry groups
  • government agencies
  • decision makers
  • public

To measure how many are participating and also what they think about the program or project.

What occurs as a result of the activities and outputs?

“Expect to see” changes in learning include the following:

  • Awareness
  • Knowledge/skills    Readiness/motivation
  • Attitude/values
  • Perception/opinions
  • Aspirations/intentions

Results that follow initial outcomes.

“Want to see” participants or beneficiaries taking action

  • Taking action or improving in some of the following ways:
  • Adoption of new practices or behaviour over time
  • New or improved process or product
  • Decisions
  • Policies
  • Procedures

Longer term consequences or results that should follow intermediate outcomes.

“Hope to see” effect or benefits for the participants or sector or public value captured as fundamental changes in some of the following conditions:

  • Economic – e.g. growth or sustainability
  • Prosperity – e.g. improved income/capita
  • Social/human – e.g. improved health
  • Environmental – e.g. green agricultural practices and processes

What you work towards but do not achieve on your own.

What resources are needed or used to support the program?

How are resources being used?

What amount of work is coming in?

How much time/money are you spending on which activities?

What are the main things the program will do/provide?

How well are you using resources in relation to outputs or outcomes achieved?

How much and what kinds of products or services are delivered?

How many and what sort of observable/tangible results will be achieved?

Who and how many receiving service or attending workshop or seminars?

How many of the targeted audience did you reach?

What is the quality of the program or service from their perspective? (e.g. satisfaction, timeliness)

What did they learn?

Do they have a better understanding of subject matter?

To what extent?

How do they demonstrate improved knowledge?

What do they intend to do?

What changes have they made?

How do you know they are taking action?

How much change is taking place?

What else happened?

What is the anticipated impact?

Is anyone or anything better off? How?

What benefits did the participants experience?

To what extent did these changes occur?

How are others affected?

In a typical logic mode, outputs are the result of what the organization does, and outcomes describe what happens with the clients or beneficiaries. Performance measures are created to answer questions such as the ones above. Keeping track of information about inputs and activities is useful to understand how and where resources are being used in relation to outputs and outcomes experienced. Long-term outcome questions may require an evaluation to answer.