NHS Health Scotland

FAQs

Glossary

What do we mean by inputs?

What do we mean by processes?

What is the difference between outputs and outcomes?

What do we mean by reach?

What are Single Outcome Agreements (SOAs)?

What is the difference between performance measurement and performance managemant?

What is the difference between short, intermediate, and long-term outcomes?

What is a logic model?

What's the difference between a logic model and a driver diagram?

Who developed these outcome frameworks?

 

  • What do we mean by inputs?
    The financial, human and material resources used to deliver a service or programme.

  • What do we mean by processes?
    The activities that need to be carried out using a range of inputs to produce specific outputs

  • What is the difference between outputs and outcomes?
    Outputs are the products, goods and services that are generated by a service or programme to meet the needs of customers. Outcomes are the changes that are achieved as the result of service delivery (or a social intervention) in the short-, medium- and long term (see below).

  • What do we mean by reach?

            Reach is the use of outputs, or uptake by those targeted and others.

  • What are Single Outcome Agreements (SOAs)?
    Under the Single Outcome Agreements community planning partners agree strategic priorities for their local area. Partners then deliver these priorities, individually or jointly, focussing on agreed outcomes.
    SOAs need to show clearly how locally agreed outcomes contribute to the Scottish National Outcomes. They need to be supported by robust performance management arrangements .

  • What is the difference between performance measurement and performance management?
    Performance measurement is the application and use of indicators to assess the performance of delivery organisations. Performance management is active use by senior managers of performance information to manage and improve services. This produces the planned outputs for their customers/target population.

  • What is the difference between short, intermediate and long-term outcomes?
    In our models we have not attached particular time-frames to short-, intermediate and long-term. They refer to the time-sequence or the order in which different outcomes are achieved. Short-term outcomes are the more immediate outcomes over which individual organisations have the most direct influence. As such, these outcomes may be better suited to performance management in particular organisations. Intermediate outcomes and longer-term outcomes take longer to achieve and are likely to be those where you have less direct influence and to which many organisations make a contribution. As such, they are more for suited for inclusion in SOAs.

  • What is a logic model?
    A diagram and text that illustrates the relationships among elements of a programme and the outcomes to be achieved. Logic models therefore help in planning programmes and in defining how to measure the success of the programme.
    .logic model programme and handbook

  • What is the difference between a logic model and a driver diagram? Driver diagrams and logic models are tools to help planning. They both provide a “theory of change”. What's the difference?

     

  • Who developed these outcome frameworks?
    The tools have been developed by NHS Health Scotland in collaboration with Scottish Government, NHS boards, local authorites and third sector organisations.