Output measures quantify the amount of goods produced or services delivered by a program or organization. They answer the question, "How much did we do?" For example, the number of miles of road paved or the number of tax returns processed are output measures. They represent the direct, tangible results of an activity. This aligns precisely with the definition of reporting the "results of providing goods or services." In contrast, outcome measures assess the impact or consequences of those outputs on the recipients or the broader community.

A. activity measures. These quantify the processes or work performed to produce an output (e.g., hours of training delivered), not the final product or service itself.

B. outcome measures. These assess the effects or consequences of the service (e.g., the reduction in traffic accidents due to newly paved roads), not the quantity of the service provided.

D. workload measures. This term is often used interchangeably with output or activity measures but typically focuses on the volume of work processed, making "output measures" the more precise term for the final product.

1. Government Accountability Office (GAO). (2011). A Guide to Key Performance Measurement Terms (GAO-11-646SP). Washington, D.C.

Page 10: Defines an output measure as "A measure of the quantity of goods and services produced by a program." This directly supports the correct answer.

Page 9: Defines an outcome measure as "A measure of the results, effects, or consequences of a program’s outputs," which distinguishes it from the correct answer.

2. Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB). (1994). Concepts Statement No. 2: Service Efforts and Accomplishments Reporting.

Paragraph 55c: States, "Measures of the quantity of a service provided are referred to as output measures. For a fire department, for example, an output measure might be the number of fires extinguished... For a public school system, an output measure might be the number of students taught."

3. Hatry, H. P. (2006). Performance Measurement: Getting Results (2nd ed.). The Urban Institute Press. (This is a foundational academic text in public administration performance measurement).

Chapter 2, Page 14: Defines outputs as "The amount of service provided, or the number of products produced by a program." It distinguishes this from outcomes, defined as "The substantive results of the program for its customers and the community."