Outcome-based measurement for developmental services: A human capabilities-oriented framework

Abstract

Organizations delivering developmental services for people with disabilities increasingly face demands to demonstrate their impact. To capture the complexity, personalization, and contextual variability of these services, the Human Capabilities approach is a promising perspective since it shifts the focus from service provision to what individuals are effectively able to do and be, also considering both personal agency and structural constraints. This study proposes an outcome-based framework aligned with the Human Capability approach and developed by integrating the Theory of Change and Realist Evaluation. The findings draw on thematic analysis of 31 interviews with staff from seven Training Services for Autonomy in Italy. The resulting framework maps resources, activities, and outcomes in a non-linear structure, accommodating the diversity of user needs and trajectories, and includes a dual-level performance system focused on individualized assessment of user capabilities and organizational performance. A core feature of the model lies in its integration of user-centered goals with contextual and mechanism-sensitive evaluation, ensuring both strategic orientation and adaptive learning in complex human service contexts.