Executive Director of the Transformation Implementation Unit (TIU), Maria Thompson Walters, is urging public sector leaders to treat performance information as a daily management tool, not a compliance exercise – especially as government becomes more digital, connected, and accountable to citizens in real time.

Addressing the 2^nd Integrated Results-Based Management (IRBM) Excellence Awards Ceremony recently, Ms Thompson Walters emphasised that evidence must shape decisions on priorities, resources, programme design, and service delivery.  “Data becomes powerful only when it is used to make decisions,” she said, noting that while many institutions collect information through plans, templates, indicators, and reports, the real test is whether that information changes what leaders do.

Ms Thompson Walters described well-executed IRBM not merely as a technical framework, but as a leadership discipline – one that requires clear definition of the problem being addressed, rigorous measures of success, and the willingness to adjust course when evidence shows change is needed.

She also highlighted the importance of moving beyond activity tracking to measuring real impact. “Outputs tell us what we did. Outcomes tell us what changed. In a data-rich world, it’s tempting to measure everything. But Results-Based Management challenges us to focus on what truly matters. Not just whether activities were completed, but whether services improved, efficiency increased, risks were reduced, or lives were positively affected. This focus is essential if we are serious about improving service delivery and public trust in Jamaica’s institutions,” she said.

Noting the increasing availability of performance data through digital systems, Ms Thompson Walters said Results-Based Management “cannot live in a report that’s reviewed once a year but must be used to respond quickly when implementation is off track.”

She underscored continuous improvement as a hallmark of mature results-based practice and congratulated award recipients for advancing evidence-driven performance improvement.

The IRBM Excellence Awards Ceremony was organised by the Office of the Cabinet to acknowledge and celebrate the outstanding application of Results-Based Management across the Government of Jamaica. Ministries were recognized for their exceptional performance in Strategic Planning, Performance Management, and the Evaluation of Programmes and Projects.