Fundamentals: What We Measure
Mission performance and service performance
The Evidence Network's performance measurement system measures
both mission performance and service performance. In the
following we explain these two measures of innovation enabler
performance.
The figure below considers the relationship between innovation
enabler missions and services, shown on the left, and firm
performance and inputs, shown on the right. As a class of
organizations, innovation enablers share the common mission of
enabling firm innovation or success, and perform an overlapping set
of services. But the specific mission of a given innovation
enabler will influence the specific services that it provides, as
indicated by the downward arrow on the left that connects
innovation enabler mission to innovation enabler services.
Similarly, firm inputs influence firm performance, subject to the
firm's capabilities and the business environment, as indicted by
the upward arrow on the right. Firm performance is measured in, for
example, revenues, valuation, or new products, services, or
processes.
Mission performance is the relationship between of innovation
enabler mission and firm performance, as indicated by the top
horizontal arrow. It is measured in terms of mission-related
results such as increased firm revenues, increased employment, or
new patents. Innovation enablers achieve mission performance
indirectly, by providing services that affect firm inputs or the
business environment. These outcomes of innovation enabler
services, over time, impact firm performance.
Service performance is the direct and immediate impact of
innovation enabler services on firm inputs. It is depicted by
the lower horizontal arrow and reflects the appropriateness and
effectiveness of innovation enabler services.
Impact with time
The Evidence Network's methodology leads to immediate and
intermediate innovation impact results, consistent with commonly
used logic models. The figure below shows that The Evidence Network
measures the immediate impact of innovation enablers' services on
their clients or members, acting as a supplier of knowledge and
specialized services. The Evidence Network measures intermediate
impact, that is, the impact on firm performance. Of course,
the performance of firms depends upon all their resources and
capabilities and on the business environment.
