US Department of Health and Human Services US Department of Health and Human Services US Department of Health and Human Services US Department of Health and Human Services US Department of Health and Human Services US Department of Health and Human Services
Department of Health and Human Services logo US Department of Health and Human Services Skip ACF banner navigation
US Department of Health and Human Services Questions?  
US Department of Health and Human Services Privacy  
US Department of Health and Human Services Site Index  
US Department of Health and Human Services Contact Us  
US Department of Health and Human Services Download Acrobat® Reader™  
US Department of Health and Human Services   ACF Home   |   Services   |   Working with ACF   |   Policy/Planning   |   About ACF   |   ACF News Search  
US Department of Health and Human Services US Department of Health and Human Services US Department of Health and Human Services
Administration for Children and Families US Department of Health and Human Services
National Human Services IT Resource Center

Monitor Operations

Monitor actual measures and results against expectations.

The eng_oper.html activities review the performance and results of the ongoing strategic activities against the HS IT Strategic Plan. Actual measures are compared with expected measures. The progress made is analyzed and the likely effects from continuing (or attempting to continue) along the planned course is assessed.

Improvement is scrutinized from various stakeholder viewpoints, including clients, workers, and management. Effort is made to recognize and understand lessons learned and weigh and recommend alternatives for corrective action.

Monitoring Operations involves the following key activities:

  1. Check Performance Results. Expected and actual successes are compared and progress evaluated.  The HS Agency should consider whether or not adjustments are needed. Measures of actual performance and results are compared with prespecified short- and long-term targets, and judgments are made concerning the significance of the differences between them. As a part of this activity, the plan should be compared against defined milestones and expectations.

    This action compares measures of actual performance and results with prespecified short- and long-term target measures (see balanced scorecard for an explanation) and judges the significance of the differences between them. 

  2. Assess HS Agency Impacts. This action considers the likely effects of changes on the stakeholders, such as client and staff. The likelihood and consequences of deviations in the plan if either the projected or planned path were realized is considered.

  3. Determine Need for Correction. The need for corrective action to either the HS IT Strategic Plan or its implementation (e.g., budgets, priorities) is determined, and the actions are prioritized.

By following the Plan the Course of Action activities, each State's IT Division produces a unique strategic plan. Since information needed to monitor to each State's strategic plan varies, this section provides high-level guidance for you to consider.



Last Updated: May 4, 2005