Performance and Transformation

Generally speaking, performance is doing something. Effective performance is doing what you said you were going to do. Efficient performance is doing what you said you were going to do while using the fewest resources available. Typically, one's goal is to perform effectively, efficiently, and safely.

How does one determe what to perform? Performance and or needs analysis helps determine what should be done.

A performance analysis assumes a desired output exists and can be measured. It assumes a gap in performance has occured, e.g., things are not happening as they should be happening. Among other things, the performance analysis identifies the performance gap, who is affected, and how much the gap costs. Decisions are made to fix the gap if the benefit of the fix is greater than the cost of the gap. If the gap is worth fixing, further performance analysis determines the most efficient, effective, and safest intervention.

A needs analysis assumes a performance goal or objective has been established. The analysis works backwards from the goal or objectives, e.g., if I want XYZ, I must have ABC. To get ABC, I must have skills, knowledge, tools, materials, etc. To get the skills, knowledge, tools, materials, etc, I must have captial, time, schedules, resources, etc. The result of the analysis identifies what is needed to achieve a goal or objective and what must be done to obtain the things needed.

When an organization determines a need to transform from something to something completely different, a needs analysis and/or performance analysis will precisely determine what the organization must do to achieve it's transformation. Performance objectives can now be established that are aligned to transformation strategy or goals.

There is only one transformation strategy and it is supported by many performance objectives. Performance obectives are aligned to transformation strategy. Performance objectives clearly and consicely set expectations. These expectations are observable and measurable. Performance objectives state who does what, under what governance, states how success will be measured, and states an acceptable level of performance. These performance objectives can be organizational and individual.

In summary, for a community to successfully transform from current state to a future state, aligned performance objectives must be in place.