Difference Between Process and Outcome Objectives
There is a significant difference between process and outcome objectives, but they are equally important in achieving the program’s goals. Process objectives focus on “activities/services/strategies that will be delivered as part of implementing the program” (CDC, n.d., p. 2). These measurable activities track progress and help ensure that necessary actions and milestones are met. They are often short-term because they help build a route to achieve the program’s goals (CDC, n.d.). By setting process objectives, one can track the success of the program implementation.
Role of Objectives in Supporting Program Goals
Outcome objectives focus on the desired outcomes of the program implementation. They are based on what “target population(s) will know or will be able to do” as a result of a program or activity (CDC, n.d., p. 2). These are the specific changes or impacts that the program aims to achieve. These goals provide a clear goal to strive for and allow program evaluation by comparing actual and desired results. Outcome objectives can be of different durations, depending on the evaluation frequency of results and the program’s implementation period.
Example of an Outcome and Process Objectives
Example of Process Objective
By 2024, 85% of healthcare professionals who reported giving the wrong gonorrhea treatment will be notified within a month (CDC, n.d.).
Example of Outcome Objective
The proportion of healthcare professionals adhering strictly to the CDC-STD treatment recommendations for properly managing gonorrhea should rise from 52% to 85% by 2024 (CDC, n.d.).
Connection Between Objectives and Program Goals
Both types of objectives are crucial in achieving the program’s goals. They help monitor the success of the program’s implementation or actions taken and make the necessary adjustments to the strategy for their implementation. In addition, thanks to them, one can track progress and evaluate the program’s efficiency.
In the example above, the process objective defines a specific action that must be taken for the program to succeed. At the same time, the outcome objective defines which intermediate results are to be achieved. Both of these objectives aim to reduce the program’s gonorrhea incidence.
Reference
CDC. (n.d.). Developing program goals and measurable objectives. Web.