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Focus on Results for Business Success

Oct 31, 2024

Lecture on Outcomes Over Output

Introduction

  • The speaker introduces Josh and discusses his work on focusing on outcomes instead of just output.
  • Jeff and Josh have authored books on Lean UX and Sense and Respond.
  • They run Sense and Respond Press, publishing practical books for leaders on modern business topics.
  • Josh's background: designer and coach, focusing on design, business agility, and launching new products.

Structure of the Webinar

  • Josh will present for 10-15 minutes, followed by a Q&A session.
  • Questions should be submitted via the Q&A module for organization.
  • The session will be recorded and available on YouTube later.

Josh's Presentation: Outcomes Over Output

Key Concepts

  • Josh's book addresses the challenge of focusing on outcomes instead of pure output.
  • Outcomes are defined as measurable changes in human behavior that drive business results.
  • This precise definition aids in practical application.

Illustrative Story

  • Example of a traffic intersection problem where output (sign) did not lead to desired outcomes (behavior change).
  • The importance of focusing on behavior change to achieve impact.

Case Study: Taproot Foundation

  • Non-profit organization connecting skilled volunteers with other non-profit organizations.
  • The mission was to increase Net Promoter Score (NPS) as a business goal.
  • Faced challenges in determining direct actions to influence NPS improvements.

Process

  • Identified behaviors in the system of their consulting service.
  • Mapped behaviors and prioritized those affecting success or failure.
  • Outcomes became a roadmap for focusing efforts throughout the year.

Logic Model

  • Connects impacts, outcomes, and outputs.
  • Encourages a continuous cycle of delivery, sensing, and responding to achieve outcomes.

Discussion and Q&A

Discussed Topics

  1. Mechanisms for Desired Impact: The importance of avoiding dark patterns and ensuring ethical behavior changes.
  2. Set of Outcomes vs. Singular Outcomes: Outcomes exist in a system and require multiple factors.
  3. Leader's Role in Outcomes: Middle managers' ability to translate strategic impacts into tangible outcomes.
  4. Overcoming Feature-Based Roadmaps: Encourage teams to examine the effectiveness of features in achieving business goals.
  5. Organizational Adoption: Challenges in transitioning from output focus to outcome-oriented thinking and the role of incentives.
  6. Experiment Design: The importance of testing and iteration to validate outcomes.
  7. OKRs and Outcomes: Aligning OKRs with measurable outcomes for better business alignment.
  8. Client Discussions on Outcomes: Starting from the contract phase to emphasize outcomes over outputs.

Conclusion

  • Encouraged continuous value delivery through iterative experiments.
  • Emphasized the importance of clear communication and stakeholder alignment.
  • The importance of adapting performance management to support outcome-oriented work.

Resources

Full transcript