Creating Readiness Metrics for the Army Civilian Workforce: A Way Ahead for Integrating Readiness into Civilian Workforce Planning

We developed a logic model as a framework for thinking about both readiness definitions and the processes and structures that support and facilitate the tracking of readiness. The logic model graphically depicts the relationship between policy, inputs and resources, activities, outputs, and outcomes that are related to the readiness of the Army civilian workforce. This model is useful not only for fostering a better understanding of the relationship between different elements of civilian readiness but also can serve as a framework to help evaluate metrics for tracking readiness. At the end point of the model (on the right) are the desired readiness outcomes that tie into individual, organizational, functional, and Army operational and strategic readiness. Metrics intended to measure readiness should ideally focus on these readiness outcomes or the outputs that feed into them. The policies, resources, and activities upstream are best considered as levers that impact readiness. Over time, the process reflected in this logic model is repeated with outcome measures and modified mission requirements influencing future decisions about the inputs, resources, and activities needed to support readiness.