What are the target outcomes and benefits?

UCD POST Target Outcomes and Benefits

Target outcomes and benefits help UCD define how we deliver value from the programme and are also used to:

Provide clarity on the purpose and direction of the programme
Establish the scope of the programme based on the outcomes to be achieved
Establish the basis on which benefits will be identified and the associated prioritisation of initiatives for inclusion in the programme

The table below provides you with further insight into the strategy and target outcomes of the POST programme. To be effective in driving the UCD programme to achieve its intended benefits, it is important that the target outcomes and benefits are all aligned to the strategic success factors and the ‘5 Whys’ for the programme. This will ensure that programme decisions are aligned with UCDs Rising to the Future strategy, of which the UCD Post programme is a critical enabler.

	The 5 Whys for the Programme	Strategic Success Factors
1	To create a better experience for our academics, students and staff	We provide an excellent experience for all our service users through transforming and operating our services around the needs of our users, and integrating our supports and services
2	To better enable our teaching, research and our student and staff services through the integration of our processes, systems and supports	We deliver internal agility and minimise the complexity and effort of routine tasks through the adjustability of our technology platforms in its capacity to support our evolving needs
3	To enhance the skills, capabilities, supports for, and job roles of those who provide those processes, systems and supports	We provide our people with the skills, experiences, supports and development they need in order to deliver and improve individual and collective performance.
4	To better deliver our strategy and ambitions	We enable our growth ambitions (faculty and student) through realising the efficiencies arising from the transformation of operations and services.
5	To be better placed to respond to external demands and pressures	We effectively recognise and address external needs, opportunities, and pressures - through agility, anticipation / forecasting / planning, 3rd party engagement, being adaptable with the systems that enable adaptability.

Target outcomes have also been defined for each of the five strategic success factors and are intended to describe the most important changes that will be required in each case. Collectively, the fifteen target outcomes identified, should provide a description of the future state changes to the operation of services, that will enable identification of the relevant transformation initiatives required.

The target outcomes play a key role in deciding which initiatives are within the scope of the UCD POST programme and which initiatives should be delivered through other means. Initiatives will be surfaced and prioritised through the Service Leads and the initial decision on whether an initiative should be progressed will be made by considering if the initiative contributes to any of the target outcomes for the programme. This is the first step in the evaluation and prioritisation of initiatives in the UCD POST programme.

The benefits identified for the programme were selected on the basis that they demonstrate the value to UCD from achievement of the target outcomes for the programme and can be measured through a set of associated metrics and targets. Understanding the nature, timing and scale of the benefits will be important in the prioritisation of initiatives to ensure that they are sequenced and implemented in a manner that provides a continuous flow of benefit from the programme.

The diagrams below describe the target outcomes and benefits identified for the programme and show their alignment with the ‘5 Whys’ and the strategic success factors.