The area of outcomes and performance management systems is plagued by many different terms, sometimes used in contradictory ways. Systematic Outcomes Analysis is based on a set of formal definitions of terms which have been developed within outcomes theory. The formal definitions are available here.
However, the terms used in outcomes theory are technical terms (e.g. intervention organization) which are not particular user-friendly. Therefore in Systematic Outcomes Analysis we use a set of terms to make the system more approachable for busy people who want to use it in the workplace.
Terms used in Systematic Outcomes Analysis include the following:
Outcome - any thing that is caused by anything else. To keep it simple we call 'causes' at any level 'outcomes', because what are outcomes from one person's point of view almost always are the cause of something at a level above them. This means that activities, outputs, intermediate outcomes, and final outcomes are all called outcomes in Systematic Outcomes Analysis. The formal distinctions between these elements are dealt with by thinking in terms of the features outcomes can have, discussed here.
Outcomes system - any system which attempts to do any of the following: develop strategy to influence outcomes within a formal or informal outcomes model; accumulate evidence about the links in the outcomes model; track progress in changing outcomes; evaluate what actually changes them; and reward or punish players on the basis of changes in outcomes. Such systems are also covered by the terms: performance management; managing for results; managing for outcomes; evidence-based practice; outcomes accountability; results accountability etc.
Player - any person, organization or other body or agent involved in an outcomes system.
Program - any person (in some instances), program, organization, policy, collaboration, joint-venture, strategy etc. which attempts to intervene to change the high-level outcomes in an outcomes model by changing lower level outcomes.