Assessments

James V. Southern
Sergeant Major, U.S. Army

Assessments Defined

Assessment is an integral part organizational effectiveness and is a

process that measures progress toward goals accomplishment.
Assessment is an ongoing function that leaders rely on in order to judge
the accuracy of information, the identification of potential problems and
the achievement of the organizations mission.
Assessment precedes and guides every activity and step of problem
solving and relies heavily on the use of critical thinking in order to
determine the status of operations. Assessment involves a comparison
of forecasted outcomes to actual events using measures of performance
and measures of effectiveness to gauge progress toward an end-state,
purpose or effect. Regardless of the model being used, assessment is a
continuous requirement that informs the problem solver. If we use an
operational context during planning, assessment focuses on developing
an understanding of the current situation as well as determining what and
how to assess progress.
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Assessments Defined
During preparation, assessment focuses on determining changes in the
friendly forces readiness, understanding the problem to include the current
situation, and determining what and how to assess progress. During
preparation and execution, assessment focuses on monitoring the current
situation and evaluating progress as visualized. Assessment helps leaders
determine what is and what is not working and provides insight into doing
things better. Ultimately we must determine progress toward
accomplishing a task, creating an effect or achieving an objective. In
problem solving we must determine the difference between the task or the
mission to be accomplished from the purpose or effect we are trying to
achieve.

Main Points
1. MOPs measure task accomplishment, and tell us if
a task is being performed according to standard.
2. MOEs measure purpose accomplishment, and tell
us if tasks are achieving an intent.
3. Indicators are items of information that provides
insight into a measure of effectiveness or measure of
performance
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Assessment

Mission
Command

Lead
Understand
The
Problem

Visualize

End State &

Design

Describe

Time,Space,
Resources,Purpose
Action

Assess

Direct

Major Tasks,
Directives

The Assessment Process

Monitoring
is continuous
observation of those
conditions relevant to
the current operation.

Evaluating
is comparison of
those conditions
relevant to the
current operation
against measures of
effectiveness and
measures of
performance to judge
progress toward
desired conditions.

Recommending and Directing

Leaders integrate recommendations from the
staff, subordinates, and other organizations
with their personal assessment. From those
recommendations, they decide if and how to
modify the operation to better accomplish the
mission.
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Assessment Terms
A Measure of Performance is a criterion used to assess friendly actions that is tied to measuring
task accomplishment (JP 3-0). MOPs appear in an Execution Matrix.
Test standards achieved.
Staff trained to standard.
Contracts secured
$15,000 spent for schoolhouse completion.
A Measure of Effectiveness is a criterion used to assess changes in system behavior, capability, or
operational environment that is tied to measuring the attainment of an end state, achievement of an
objective, or creation of an effect (JP 3-0).
Increase mean test average across district.
Improve organizational professional development. .
In the context of assessment, an Indicator is an item of information that provides insight into a
measure of effectiveness or measure of performance.
A Quantitative Indicator is an observation-based (objective) item of information that provides
insight into a measure of effectiveness or measure of performance.
A Qualitative Indicator is an opinion-based (subjective) item of information that provides insight
into a measure of effectiveness or measure of performance.
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Characteristics of MOP/MOE/Indicators
MOE

MOP

Indicator

Answers the question:

are we doing the right
things?

Answers the question:

are we doing things
right?

Answers the question:

what is the status of this
MOE or MOP?

Measures purpose
accomplishment.

Measures task
completion.

Measures raw data inputs

to inform MOEs and
MOPs.

Measures why in the

mission statement.

Measures what in the

mission statement.

Information used to
make measuring what or
why possible.

No hierarchical
relationship to MOP.

No hierarchical
relationship to MOE.

Subordinate to MOP and

MOE.

Often formally tracked in Often formally tracked in Often formally tracked in

formal assessment
execution matrixes.
formal assessment
plans.
plans.
Typically relatively
challenging to chose the
correct ones.

Typically relatively
simple to chose the
correct ones.

Typically as challenging
to select correctly as the
supported MOE/MOP.

Selecting & Writing

Measures of Effectiveness
Select only MOEs that measure the degree to which the
desired outcome is achieved.
Choose distinct MOEs.
Include differing MOEs.
Use the same MOE to measure more than one condition.
Avoid additional reporting requirements for subordinates.
Structure MOEs.
Write MOEs as statements of desired outcomes.
Maximize clarity.

Selecting and Writing Indicators

Measurable. A measurable indicator can be gauged using

either
quantitative or qualitative techniques.
Collectable. An indicator is collectable if the data associated
with the indicator can be reasonably obtained.
Relevant. An indicator is relevant if it provides insight into a
supported MOE or MOP.
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