Agencies can prepare more effective reports by talking with their customers and stakeholders to learn what is useful to them, and how to better present the information. If the IT project goals were not met, agencies must identify and explain the factors that inhibited performance. The inhibitors possible are numerous. They could include the design of agency processes, interruptions of funding, site preparation delays, acts of God, change of strategy or requirements, or loss of key personnel. It becomes easier with practice and experience to develop and use performance measures.
Agencies refine their output, outcome and impact measures to adequately track the results intended.
Measures change over time as the priorities of the organization change. At the Information Resources Management Conference in September 1996, OMB stated it recognized the difficulty of obtaining outcome measures. Initially, OMB said it would accept output measures. Figure 11 shows a sample performance report. There is no prescribed format for reporting results.