effekteffektivisering

Effekteffektivisering is a management concept used primarily in Scandinavian public administration and increasingly in the private sector. The term combines effect and efficiency, denoting an approach that seeks to maximize the intended effects of activities while minimizing resource use, i.e., pursuing high impact relative to input without sacrificing quality or sustainability.

Definition: It is a systematic process of aligning objectives, activities, and resources to produce measurable outcomes. It differs from pure efficiency by prioritizing outcomes and value-for-money, not only cost reductions.

Scope and methods: In practice, effekteffektivisering relies on performance management, logic models, and results-based budgeting. Methods include mapping expected outcomes, identifying indicators, benchmarking, process optimization, and evidence-based program design. Data collection and evaluation are used to judge which activities contribute most to desired effects.

Application: Commonly applied in government agencies, municipalities, and state-funded programs, as well as in the non-profit sector and some private enterprises. Examples include consolidating services to reduce duplication, reallocating funding to high-impact interventions, or streamlining administrative procedures to accelerate service delivery.

Benefits and risks: Potential benefits include higher impact per invested resource, reduced waste, and clearer accountability. Risks include overemphasis on short-term metrics, misattribution of effects, and neglect of equity or long-term outcomes.

Implementation steps: 1) articulate desired effects; 2) map activities to outcomes; 3) measure with reliable indicators; 4) redesign processes; 5) pilot and scale successful changes; 6) monitor and adjust.

See also: value for money, results-based management, program evaluation, performance management.