Metrics & Outcomes

Understand the Difference Between Activities, Outputs, Outcomes and Impact

Understand the Difference Between Activities, Outputs, Outcomes and Impact

Funders often want to understand what changes because a project was completed.

A useful way to structure this is:

Activities
What the company does.

Example: hire a researcher, conduct experiments, build software.

Outputs
What the project directly produces.

Example: prototype, validation report, software release.

Outcomes
What changes because the work was completed.

Example: improved accuracy, lower cost, reduced technical risk.

Impact
The broader result.

Example: job creation, export growth, better health outcomes or new IP.

This framework helps make project benefits much clearer and more measurable.

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