OBA flashcards
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32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.
- Outcome-based accountability
- A management approach that defines success by measurable changes in outcomes rather than by activities, outputs, or compliance with process, requiring baselines, targets, and indicators for each objective.
- Logic model
- A visual description linking inputs, activities, outputs, outcomes, and impact in causal sequence, used to test whether a program's design can plausibly produce its intended results.
- Output versus outcome
- An output is a countable product of activity, such as sessions delivered; an outcome is a change in participants or conditions, such as improved knowledge or reduced incidence.
- SMART target
- A target that is specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound; failing any criterion makes the target unverifiable and unsuitable for accountability reporting.
- Baseline
- The value of an indicator measured before intervention begins, providing the reference point against which change and target achievement are later assessed.
- Theory of change
- An explicit account of how and why change is expected, stating causal pathways, assumptions, and external conditions between each step from activities to impact.
- Indicator
- A quantitative or qualitative variable that signals the level of an outcome or output, defined with a unit, data source, and frequency so it can be tracked consistently.
- Results framework
- A hierarchical diagram nesting outputs under outcomes and outcomes under impact, with each level linked to indicators and means of verification for upward accountability.
- Risk score
- A priority value computed as likelihood multiplied by impact, used to rank risks and set mitigation thresholds and escalation levels.
- Cost-effectiveness analysis
- A comparison that divides total program cost by units of outcome achieved, allowing alternatives with different costs to be ranked by cost per result.
- Critical path
- The longest sequence of dependent activities in a schedule; any delay on this path delays the whole project, so it receives priority monitoring.
- Performance measurement plan
- A document specifying for each indicator its definition, data source, collection method, frequency, responsible party, and quality assurance procedure.
- Assumption versus risk
- An assumption is an external condition believed true but outside program control; a risk is an uncertain event the program can manage or mitigate.
- Work breakdown structure
- A hierarchical decomposition of project deliverables into work packages, each assigned a single accountable owner and estimated cost and duration.
- RACI matrix
- A responsibility chart assigning each task one Accountable role, one or more Responsible roles, and optional Consulted and Informed roles to clarify decision rights.
- Change control
- A formal process requiring written request, assessment of impact on scope, schedule, and budget, and documented approval before a change is implemented.
- Implementation fidelity
- The degree to which activities are delivered as designed; low fidelity weakens causal claims that observed outcomes resulted from the intervention.
- Adaptive management
- A cyclical process of collecting performance data, comparing results with targets, and deciding whether to continue, adjust, or stop activities.
- Data flow map
- A diagram tracing each indicator from collection point through verification, storage, and reporting, identifying responsibilities and quality checks at each stage.
- Monitoring versus evaluation
- Monitoring is continuous internal tracking of implementation and outputs; evaluation is periodic assessment of merit, worth, and outcomes against explicit criteria.
- Variance analysis
- Comparison of actual performance with target or plan; variance equals actual minus target, and percentage variance equals variance divided by target times 100.
- Data quality dimensions
- Criteria for judging data, commonly validity, reliability, timeliness, precision, integrity, and completeness, each checked before results are reported.
- Formative evaluation
- An evaluation conducted during implementation to improve design and delivery, focusing on processes and early results rather than final judgments.
- Summative evaluation
- An evaluation conducted after completion to judge whether intended outcomes were achieved and whether the intervention was effective, efficient, and sustainable.
- Triangulation
- The use of multiple independent data sources, methods, or evaluators to cross-check findings and increase confidence in conclusions.
- Earned value
- A project control metric comparing budgeted value of work performed with actual cost and planned value; cost variance equals earned value minus actual cost.
- Informed consent
- Voluntary agreement to participate after disclosure of purpose, procedures, risks, benefits, confidentiality arrangements, and the right to withdraw without penalty.
- Data minimization
- The principle that only data necessary for a stated lawful purpose should be collected, retained no longer than needed, and protected by appropriate safeguards.
- Conflict of interest
- A situation where personal, financial, or political interests could bias professional judgment; it requires disclosure and recusal when objectivity is compromised.
- Evaluation independence
- The condition in which evaluators are free from pressure by managers of the program being evaluated, ensuring findings are objective and credible.
- Do no harm
- An ethical obligation to assess and prevent risks to participants and communities, including stigma, privacy breach, and inequitable distribution of benefits.
- Audit trail
- Retained source documents, data versions, and decision records that allow an independent party to verify reported results and reconstruct the analysis.