Definition Output and Outcome - Differences and Definitions

[samsung]

I need to know if there's any noticeable difference between 'output' and 'outcome' and also if they differ to an appreciable extent, which one needs to be focused over the other. The issue surfaced during setting of employees' annual KRA.

Your valuable inputs are highly appreciated.

 

[RoxaneB]

I need to know if there's any noticeable difference between 'output' and 'outcome' and also if they differ to an appreciable extent, which one needs to be focused over the other. The issue surfaced during setting of employees' annual KRA.

Your valuable inputs are highly appreciated.

It may be depend on the field of application, however, my own thoughts are as follows:

Output - Items that are a consequence of a process or activity

Outcome - Specifically-looked for results that are generated from a process or activity

Being in healthcare, if we have a client that a bad wound/cut in their leg the output could include dirty bandages, client records, etc. The outcome is the progression of improvement on the wound or cut.

That being said, I can see how others would interpret the two words to mean the same.

What is KRA, by the way?

 

[samsung]

What is KRA, by the way?

Thanks for the response. KRA means "Key Result Area".

 

[RoxaneB]

Thanks for the response. KRA means "Key Result Area".

Ah. Thank you for the explanation.

"Outcome" could indicate if the goal was reached in the KRA. "Output" could be stuff generated to support the "Outcome".

Example: Internal Auditor training.

Goal = 100% of internal auditors trained
Outcome = 95% of internal auditors trained
Output = Internal auditor training manual developed. Training matrix developed and updated.

 

[qusys]

I need to know if there's any noticeable difference between 'output' and 'outcome' and also if they differ to an appreciable extent, which one needs to be focused over the other. The issue surfaced during setting of employees' annual KRA.

Your valuable inputs are highly appreciated.

I would tend to say that the concept of "outcome" is linked to the results of performance in a certain activity performed by people, while the concept of "output" is linked to the result of a "material" process.
For instance, if you hold a meeting with other process owner or experts to fix a problem, when you take decision for a plan to solve it, we could say that they are outcomes of the meeting, on the other hand , if you have planned to produce 1000 pieces of something according to a production schedule , we can say that they are the output of the process.
hope this contributes to the discussion.

 

[Jim Wynne]

I need to know if there's any noticeable difference between 'output' and 'outcome' and also if they differ to an appreciable extent, which one needs to be focused over the other. The issue surfaced during setting of employees' annual KRA.

Your valuable inputs are highly appreciated.

In some senses the words are synonymous, but in your case perhaps not. "Output" might be considered the the result of the operation of a process, while "outcome" might denote the results of an evaluation of the output.

 

[AndyN]

In some senses the words are synonymous, but in your case perhaps not. "Output" might be considered the the result of the operation of a process, while "outcome" might denote the results of an evaluation of the output.

Agreed! The output of a process maybe a number of products, the outcome may be that all the products failed test!

 

[Randy]

Environmentally speaking "The outcome of the output resulted in a fish kill"

 

[samsung]

To further clarify my point of view, I've attached the description of what our corporate has sent us to follow w.r.t. setting of performance indicators/ Key Result Areas for the current year.

I could not precisely comprehend what they mean to convey and before I ask for a clarification, I wish to discuss and understand the issue with Cove experts.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Chennaiite]

To further clarify my point of view, I've attached the description of what our corporate has sent us to follow w.r.t. setting of performance indicators/ Key Result Areas for the current year.

I could not precisely comprehend what they mean to convey and before I ask for a clarification, I wish to discuss and understand the issue with Cove experts.

Thanks in advance.

One of my targets in the coming year is to lead in establishing a DFMEA Manual for our own Organization. This was initiated with the objective of reducing variation in the application of DFMEA across a 1000-membered Design function. Logically, I was struggling to hold a quantified measurable to it - how to measure variation in DFMEA of sorts.
I think this really fits into what your Corporate defines as 'Outcome'. Similarly, IMO something like Employee Motivation is not genuinely a measurable thing. I mean, you can put in place a lot of Programs to motivate Employees, but its tough to arrive at a measurement that genuinely indicates the motivation level. Just my opinion.