Learning patterns/Define program goals and measures of success
What problem does this solve?
[edit]Sometimes describing program goals in grant proposals or annual plans can feel challenging, restrictive or even unneccessary. This learning pattern will give examples of the variety of results that programs typically have, and identify the different tools to track progress toward goals and measure success.
What is the solution?
[edit]Every program, project, or event will have different goals. Sometimes your main goal will be to increase participation. Another time, with the same program, you may want to increase content instead, and sometimes, both are very important. Choosing your measures of success always depends on what goals you are aiming for.
Measures for Evaluation is an on-wiki tool that shows how measures connect to goals. Then, it breaks measures down into inputs, outputs, and outcomes. The tools also has some suggestions for what tool to use to measure goals. However, for popular programs, below is a list of example goals and measures of success.
Contests
[edit]Writing contests
[edit]| Sample Goals | Suggested Measures |
|---|---|
| Increase diversity of information coverage | |
| Building and engaging community | |
| Increasing awareness of Wikimedia projects | |
| Recruiting and/or converting new users | |
| Increasing contributions | |
| Increasing volunteer motivation and commitment |
Photo contests
[edit]| Sample Goals | Suggested Measures |
|---|---|
| Increasing awareness of Wikimedia projects | |
| Making contributing fun | |
| Building and engaging community | Number of active users participation (5 edits/month), Total number of participants, Number of new users |
| Increasing support for the open knowledge/free content movement | |
| Increasing contributions | Number of photos uploaded |
| Increasing diversity of information coverage | |
| Increasing diversity of participants | |
| Increase use of contributions on Wikimedia projects | X months after the event, X number (and Y%) of photos are used on wiki projects |
| Increase accuracy/detail/quality of contributions | X months after the event, X number (and Y%) of uploaded photos are categorized as valued, X (and Y%) as quality, and X (and Y%) as featured |
| Increase volunteer motivation and committment | |
| Increase number of of cultural heritage sites listed on Wikimedia projects | % increase in number of monuments listed over prior year |
Learn more about Global metrics!
Education programs
[edit]Things to consider
[edit]When to use
[edit]Endorsements
[edit]See also
[edit]Related patterns
[edit]- Use Hidden Categories to track projects: Hidden categories allow you to track several projects under one category.
External links
[edit]- Glamorous: Calculates how many images from a certain category are being used on wiki projects.
- Wikimetrics: Tracks user contributions at different points in time.
- Wikimetrics Training: Wikimetrics learning module.