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Show the Value of What You Do: Measuring and Achieving Success in Any Endeavor
By the winners of the Association for Talent Development's 2022 Thought Leader award!
Prove your effectiveness to anyone-and achieve professional success-by adopting the same ROI methods and metrics that leading companies use.
In an era of evidence-based inquiry, people need to be able to demonstrate the value of their projects credibly. But how do you do that when there isn't an obvious measure connected to the project, like increased sales?
In their new book Patti and Jack Phillips, the cofounders of ROI Institute, show how you can adopt the same methodology used by more than 6,000 organizations in seventy countries to evaluate large institutional initiatives. By following their six-step process, you can build a case for any project, process, or intervention, even so-called soft programs. For example, the first case study in the book involves successfully demonstrating the effectiveness of chaplaincy in an intensive care unit.
The authors explain how to link your project to a meaningful business outcome, make sure your project will actually influence that outcome, identify metrics that will show if you're making progress, collect and analyze data, and use the results to build support.
This book includes extensive examples from a wide range of businesses, nonprofits, schools, law enforcement, and more. It provides diagnostic tools and supportive practices and even offers advice on how to find a positive interpretation for results that don't conform to your anticipated outcome.
Answering the question Is it worth it? defines the ultimate value of any project. Using the methodology this book presents will keep your work relevant, your career on track, and your organization healthy.
Prove your effectiveness to anyone-and achieve professional success-by adopting the same ROI methods and metrics that leading companies use.
In an era of evidence-based inquiry, people need to be able to demonstrate the value of their projects credibly. But how do you do that when there isn't an obvious measure connected to the project, like increased sales?
In their new book Patti and Jack Phillips, the cofounders of ROI Institute, show how you can adopt the same methodology used by more than 6,000 organizations in seventy countries to evaluate large institutional initiatives. By following their six-step process, you can build a case for any project, process, or intervention, even so-called soft programs. For example, the first case study in the book involves successfully demonstrating the effectiveness of chaplaincy in an intensive care unit.
The authors explain how to link your project to a meaningful business outcome, make sure your project will actually influence that outcome, identify metrics that will show if you're making progress, collect and analyze data, and use the results to build support.
This book includes extensive examples from a wide range of businesses, nonprofits, schools, law enforcement, and more. It provides diagnostic tools and supportive practices and even offers advice on how to find a positive interpretation for results that don't conform to your anticipated outcome.
Answering the question Is it worth it? defines the ultimate value of any project. Using the methodology this book presents will keep your work relevant, your career on track, and your organization healthy.
222 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 20, 2022
15 people are currently reading
55 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
December 3, 2023
This model is the missing link to winning wider support: it will prove the worth of any initiative, even those with seemingly intangible impact.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 5, 2023
"Show the Value of What You Do: Measuring and Achieving Success in Any Endeavor" by Patricia Pulliam Phillips and Jack J. Phillips is a comprehensive guide that addresses the challenge of quantifying the impact of initiatives in various fields, even those with seemingly intangible results such as social work, creative projects, or community programs. The book introduces a model that serves as a missing link to gaining wider support and demonstrates how to prove the worth of any endeavor effectively.
The authors lay out a systematic approach to showcase the value of initiatives, emphasizing the importance of defining success at every level. They illustrate this process using examples, such as a chaplaincy program in a hospital or a police chief aiming to reduce citizen complaints. The model presented in the book involves steps like defining success, assessing learning, evaluating behaviors, examining impact, and calculating the return on investment (ROI). The book stresses the significance of setting clear, measurable goals from the outset and aligning them with stakeholder priorities. It provides practical advice on how to quantify both hard and soft goals, establish baseline metrics, and calculate potential ROI. The authors emphasize the need to communicate the value of the initiative to stakeholders, making a compelling business case for investment.
One key aspect highlighted in the book is the selection of the best solution to address the identified impact goals. The authors guide readers through the process of identifying performance gaps, brainstorming solutions, determining learning requirements, and calculating the associated time and cost. They emphasize the importance of obtaining buy-in from those implementing the solutions, connecting the initiative to their personal and professional growth. The book also delves into the significance of setting clear objectives for the initiative. The authors use the example of Martin Burt's Poverty Stoplight program, which includes 50 indicators with specific objectives. The book suggests that well-defined objectives provide direction, motivation, and a means to demonstrate value. It provides guidance on setting specific goals at each level of the program and tracking progress against those objectives.
The chapters on collecting and analyzing data offer valuable insights into the process of gathering evidence to demonstrate the impact of the initiative. The authors provide guidance on selecting data collection methods aligned with objectives, leveraging credible sources, setting timeframes, and ensuring participant engagement. They emphasize the need to analyze data to isolate the impact of the initiative from other factors and calculate ROI. The book concludes by highlighting the importance of leveraging results for continued success. It advises on evaluating results thoroughly, setting communication objectives, tailoring delivery for different audiences, and extracting lessons learned for future improvement. The authors emphasize the potential for individuals to leverage their success and knowledge for greater awareness and impact.
In summary, "Show the Value of What You Do" provides a comprehensive and practical guide for individuals involved in various initiatives, offering a model to prove the impact and worth of their work. The book's structured approach, real-world examples, and emphasis on clear communication make it a valuable resource for anyone seeking to measure and achieve success in their endeavors.
The authors lay out a systematic approach to showcase the value of initiatives, emphasizing the importance of defining success at every level. They illustrate this process using examples, such as a chaplaincy program in a hospital or a police chief aiming to reduce citizen complaints. The model presented in the book involves steps like defining success, assessing learning, evaluating behaviors, examining impact, and calculating the return on investment (ROI). The book stresses the significance of setting clear, measurable goals from the outset and aligning them with stakeholder priorities. It provides practical advice on how to quantify both hard and soft goals, establish baseline metrics, and calculate potential ROI. The authors emphasize the need to communicate the value of the initiative to stakeholders, making a compelling business case for investment.
One key aspect highlighted in the book is the selection of the best solution to address the identified impact goals. The authors guide readers through the process of identifying performance gaps, brainstorming solutions, determining learning requirements, and calculating the associated time and cost. They emphasize the importance of obtaining buy-in from those implementing the solutions, connecting the initiative to their personal and professional growth. The book also delves into the significance of setting clear objectives for the initiative. The authors use the example of Martin Burt's Poverty Stoplight program, which includes 50 indicators with specific objectives. The book suggests that well-defined objectives provide direction, motivation, and a means to demonstrate value. It provides guidance on setting specific goals at each level of the program and tracking progress against those objectives.
The chapters on collecting and analyzing data offer valuable insights into the process of gathering evidence to demonstrate the impact of the initiative. The authors provide guidance on selecting data collection methods aligned with objectives, leveraging credible sources, setting timeframes, and ensuring participant engagement. They emphasize the need to analyze data to isolate the impact of the initiative from other factors and calculate ROI. The book concludes by highlighting the importance of leveraging results for continued success. It advises on evaluating results thoroughly, setting communication objectives, tailoring delivery for different audiences, and extracting lessons learned for future improvement. The authors emphasize the potential for individuals to leverage their success and knowledge for greater awareness and impact.
In summary, "Show the Value of What You Do" provides a comprehensive and practical guide for individuals involved in various initiatives, offering a model to prove the impact and worth of their work. The book's structured approach, real-world examples, and emphasis on clear communication make it a valuable resource for anyone seeking to measure and achieve success in their endeavors.
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December 3, 2023As a qualitative researcher in user experience, I often struggled to demonstrate the impact of my work. This is because when your research shapes strategy, it can take months or even years to see the impact. I completely agree with the author and I'll share what has worked for me over time.
Tie user research to business value. Remember that your research is the foundation of the strategy.
Always include stakeholders in your planning. This will gain their buy-in, and you can use their unanswered questions to shape your research project.
Presentation is everything. Deliver information to the point and ALWAYS have a POV on what to do about the problems that you find.
Tie user research to business value. Remember that your research is the foundation of the strategy.
Always include stakeholders in your planning. This will gain their buy-in, and you can use their unanswered questions to shape your research project.
Presentation is everything. Deliver information to the point and ALWAYS have a POV on what to do about the problems that you find.
June 5, 2023
This book is so dang technical, I had to turn it in late to the library. It really makes you numerically consider why you do a thing and the benefits/detriments of that thing. This book is a good tool to reference when building/refining a system. Makes you ask important questions.
June 28, 2024
Main takeaways:
- Always start with your goal in mind
- After communicating value, leverage results for greater awareness and impact.
- We live in an age in which everything must show tangible value. But quantifying the impact of efforts like social work, creative projects, or community programs can be tricky.
- Improve projects via black box thinking. Once your project is executed, leverage results for greater awareness and wider impact.
Notes:
- You could benchmark metrics like patient satisfaction, length of stay, or readmissions. Hard data convinces administrators your program adds real value: Calculate your benefit-to-cost ratio, and compare program expenses to the measurable benefits to showcase the return on investment. This financial case further compels investment in your department.
- To build support, identify goals that resonate with stakeholders.
- In any sector, define the impact first and tie goals directly to stakeholder priorities. Quantify both hard and soft goals, set a baseline, and make the business case with ROI.
- Calculate benefit-cost ratio by dividing total benefits by project cost. For ROI percentage, subtract costs from benefits, divide by costs, and multiply by 100. For example, say your training program cost $50,000 but increased revenue by $150,000. The benefit-cost ratio is 3:1. The ROI is (150,000 – 50,000) / 50,000 = 2. Multiply that by 100, giving you a result of 200% ROI.
Action points & questions:
- At the basic level, are patients and families reacting positively to support? Do they find comfort and meaning during difficult times? Are patients spending less time in hospital, thereby saving themselves and the hospital money? Investigate by asking everyone involved to obtain and record feedback.
- Include clients, participants, and staff in reviews to build understanding of program design and show how objectives are driving decisions.
- Surveys gather broad opinions, while in-depth questionnaires provide detailed responses from participants. Observations assess behaviors unobtrusively. Tests gauge learning retention. And be sure to collect cost data for later ROI analysis.
- Identify credible, unbiased sources like respected experts in the field or reputable databases. Seek perspective from different informed angles to get a well-rounded picture and reduce bias. Consider gathering data from participants, managers, executives, and public records.
- Always start with your goal in mind
- After communicating value, leverage results for greater awareness and impact.
- We live in an age in which everything must show tangible value. But quantifying the impact of efforts like social work, creative projects, or community programs can be tricky.
- Improve projects via black box thinking. Once your project is executed, leverage results for greater awareness and wider impact.
Notes:
- You could benchmark metrics like patient satisfaction, length of stay, or readmissions. Hard data convinces administrators your program adds real value: Calculate your benefit-to-cost ratio, and compare program expenses to the measurable benefits to showcase the return on investment. This financial case further compels investment in your department.
- To build support, identify goals that resonate with stakeholders.
- In any sector, define the impact first and tie goals directly to stakeholder priorities. Quantify both hard and soft goals, set a baseline, and make the business case with ROI.
- Calculate benefit-cost ratio by dividing total benefits by project cost. For ROI percentage, subtract costs from benefits, divide by costs, and multiply by 100. For example, say your training program cost $50,000 but increased revenue by $150,000. The benefit-cost ratio is 3:1. The ROI is (150,000 – 50,000) / 50,000 = 2. Multiply that by 100, giving you a result of 200% ROI.
Action points & questions:
- At the basic level, are patients and families reacting positively to support? Do they find comfort and meaning during difficult times? Are patients spending less time in hospital, thereby saving themselves and the hospital money? Investigate by asking everyone involved to obtain and record feedback.
- Include clients, participants, and staff in reviews to build understanding of program design and show how objectives are driving decisions.
- Surveys gather broad opinions, while in-depth questionnaires provide detailed responses from participants. Observations assess behaviors unobtrusively. Tests gauge learning retention. And be sure to collect cost data for later ROI analysis.
- Identify credible, unbiased sources like respected experts in the field or reputable databases. Seek perspective from different informed angles to get a well-rounded picture and reduce bias. Consider gathering data from participants, managers, executives, and public records.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews