Participatory Performance Story Reporting
What are Performance Story Reports?
Performance story reports are essentially a short report about how a program contributed to outcomes. Although they may vary in content and format, most are consise, mention program context and aims, relate to a plausible results chain, and are backed by empirical evidence (Dart and Mayne, 2005).
The term ‘performance story’ was introduced by John Mayne in a paper that was published in 2004. PSRs aim to strike a good balance between depth of information and brevity. They aim to be easy for staff and stakeholders to understand, and help build a credible case about the contribution that a program has made towards outcomes or targets. They also provide a common language for discussing different programs and helping teams to focus on results.
What is the Participatory Performance Story Reporting (PPSR) Technique?
The participatory performance story reporting (PPSR) technique yields one specific type of report, a ‘performance story report’, and follows a particular participatory process. This technique was developed by Jess Dart and is characterized by two elements: a five-stage participatory process whereby the information is generated and a five-part structure in which the report product is presented.
Performance Story Report Structure
Performance story reports aim to explore and report on the extent to which an intervention has contributed to outcomes. They are thus aimed at answering the “impact” question…. More
Participatory Process
We prefer to use participatory process to generate a performance story report. There are key learning and reflection opportunities throughout the process for key stakeholders to be involved. Participation in the process of discovery and analysis also engenders ownership and increases the chances that findings will be acted upon… More
Why are they attractive to organisations?
Organisations often place a high value on performance story reports because they strike a good balance between depth of information and brevity and are easy for staff and stakeholders to understand. They help build a credible case that a contribution has been made. They also provide a common language for discussing different programs and helping teams to focus on results.
Some of the Limitations of Performance Story Reporting
Bias: PPSR’s have been criticised for being too appreciative, or for being incapable of telling a bad story. While this is certainly a risk, the approach does attempt to address this in a number of ways… More
External or Internal Evaluation?
PPSR can be conducted both internally by program staff or contracted as external evaluation work, depending on the context.
Who is the audience for the product?
PSRs can be used for a wide range of audiences, but it is very important to think about whom you are targeting in your report before you start. This may affect the degree of detail supplied and the language used.
Choice of topic for a PPSR
Choosing a topic for PPSR is a tricky step, yet vitally important. Where PPSR has not gone well to date, it is often associated with choosing an inappropriate topic or scale. The things to consider in choosing a topic for PPSR include:
- appropriate scale for the evaluand*
- clarity as to which outcomes the evaluand is intended to contribute
- time scale: how long the evaluand been in operation, and has sufficient time lapsed to determine contribution to impact
- choosing a successful versus less successful intervention
- choosing a number of PPSR topics to create a balanced view
*The subject of an evaluation, typically a program, policy or system rather than a person
What does Clear Horizon offer?
Clear Horizon consultants are well versed in developing performance stories - particularly as it is based on a participatory process which is how we like to work! Clear Horizon is on the Multi-User List for the Department of Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts for provision of services relating to the development of Performance Story Reports in various regions of Australia. Over the past couple of years we have done a number of Performance Story report in the NRM sector Clear Horizon. We also run public and tailored ‘in-house’ training in Performance story Reporting. Check the training section section of the site for more details.
