Developing a performance story report

This guide outlines a step-by-step participatory process for developing a performance story report in the context of ‘performance story evaluation’ and natural resource management, but can be used for monitoring and in other contexts.

This resource and the following information was contributed by Jo Hall.

Authors and their affiliation

Dr Alice Roughley (Australian Government Land and Coasts) and Dr Jess Dart (Clear Horizon)

Key features

The key steps outlined in this guide are:

  1. Scoping
  2. Evidence gathering
  3. Integrated data analysis
  4. Expert panel
  5. Summit meeting
  6. Integration, report and communications
  7. Revising the program logic

How have you used or intend on using this resource?

Chapter 6 is particularly helpful in guiding users in how to pull together different types of evidence to write a performance story. Chapter 4 is very useful as very little is written to explain how to use expert panels.

The guide also contains templates, such as a results chart, and examples, such as a sample evidence summary sheet. These are very helpful tools.

Why would you recommend it to other people?

While this is a comprehensive guide to implementing a ‘performance story evaluation’, I find the individual chapters and tools helpful for undertaking tasks associated with monitoring or with other types of evaluation. People tend to need some help in learning how to tell performance stories and this guide is useful in developing that skill.

Sources

Roughly, A & Dart, J. 2009, Developing a Performance Story Report: User Guide, Commonwealth of Australia. Retrieved from https://www.cifor.org/wp-content/uploads/dfid/KNOWFOR%20monitoring%20tool%20kit/9.%20PSR%20guide.pdf

'Developing a performance story report' is referenced in: