# Auditing Performance Outcomes Course (Self-Paced)

Canonical URL: <https://www.graduateschool.edu/courses/auditing-performance-outcomes-course-self-paced>

## Overview

Gain the skills of advanced program performance assessment and evaluation methodology for determining impact (benefit) attributable to agency program operations, investments, and changes. Learn to identify and validate cause and effect relationships in determining the outcome results of a program initiative or change. Explore various evaluation designs to isolate the results or impacts attributable to an initiative or intervening variable by comparing performance achieved with the initiative to performance without it. Learn the conditions, strengths, and weaknesses of applying each design in accounting for rival causes. Through multiple case exercises, practice planning, audits and evaluations using the design methodologies that lead to valid and supportable findings. Learn how to prepare a Cost/Benefit Analysis to determine if outcome results attributable to a program initiative are worth the cost.

## What you'll learn

- Recognize what audit questions call for an impact audit with the objective of determining the outcome results attributable to a program or initiative.
- Explain how impact audits with a focus on outcome results are similar to and different from traditional performance audits.
- Describe the basic methodology for conducting impact audits.
- Define and apply the finding elements for impact audits.
- Cite the items of background information about the program or initiative under audit that needs to be collected in conducting an impact audit.
- Write objectives that provide direction for planning and reporting on impact audits.
- Identify rival causes that can adversely affect an auditor's ability to draw sound conclusions about the results attributable to a program or initiative.
- Choose and apply the methodology design that is most applicable in conducting a given impact audit considering data availability and rival causes.
- Explain the use of Cost and Benefit Analysis and how the results of impact audits are used in such analysis.
- Prepare a Cost and Benefit Analysis of an implemented program or initiative.

## Curriculum

#### Module 1: Basics in Auditing Outcomes

- Understanding the objectives of impact audits
- Distinguishing between traditional performance audits and impact audits
- Identifying elements of impact audit findings
- Selecting appropriate performance measures for impact audits

#### Module 2: Preparing for an Impact Audit

- Mapping programs to understand operations and outcomes
- Gathering essential background information for audit preparation
- Assessing target problems, causes, and populations involved
- Determining if conditions support conducting an impact audit

#### Module 3: Designs for Conducting Impact Audits

- Exploring methodological designs: Post Group Comparison, Before-and-After, and Time-Series
- Assessing strengths and weaknesses of each design
- Controlling for rival causes and external factors in analyses
- Applying designs to practical auditing scenarios

#### Module 4: Applying the Designs

- Formulating precise audit objectives and questions
- Selecting the most appropriate methodological design
- Identifying and collecting reliable performance data
- Documenting audit plans clearly and effectively

#### Module 5: Cost and Benefit Analysis

- Understanding the use and significance of cost-benefit analyses
- Quantifying benefits attributable to program initiatives
- Calculating and evaluating cost-efficiency and cost-effectiveness
- Performing practical cost-benefit analysis on implemented initiatives

## Pricing

**Tuition:** $1049