What is the IRBM System?
IRBM is Integrated Results-Based Management, a contemporary strategic performance management system that is being increasingly adopted by development partners and developing countries alike. The IRBM system is also becoming more popular among the private sector, civil society organizations, and even individual organizations. It is a proven integrated system that enables strategic performance management at all levels and systematically links the overall strategic plan with the budgetary and personnel performance systems, and then systematically puts in place the requisite monitoring and evaluation support systems to improve the decision making process at all levels and eventually improves evidence-based decisions.
The Integrated Results-Based Management (IRBM) System is an enhanced version of the original Results-Based Management (RBM) system that has been practised by many advanced countries over the years. While the RBM system focuses on the individual organization and is excellent as a performance management tool at the organizational level, the IRBM is an indispensable tool both at the organizational level as well as on a whole-of-government level. It is an excellent system-based approach to development management and is excellent for a developing country with its challenges of vertical and horizontal integration issues. The IRBM system is fully compliant with the technical requirements of the donor-supported Managing-for-Development Results (MfDR) concept.
The IRBM has a strong focus on integration and unlike traditional performance management systems like the RBM, TQM, MBO, BSC, and other similar approaches, it has a dedicated results-based development approach with special attention to horizontal and vertical integration issues. It is fully compliant with the HoVeR(TM) Principle and is very much based on the needs of a developing country and its typical medium-term development planning requirements. The IRBM system has five major components under it all of which operate within an e-government environment. The components and their details are as follows:
Integrated Results-Based Management (IRBM)…the missing links
Initially conceptualised and designed in 1999 based on experience with development experiences in Vietnam, IRBM is a contemporary results management system which was introduced to address the apparent weaknesses of the original “RBM” system. The main ingredient of the IRBM system is its focus on “integration” between all aspects of program development and management. The IRBM system is fully compliant with MfDR principles and covers all essential components that make up the critical success factors for results/performance. Applied to any organization (government, private sector, NGOs, academia, individuals & even Whole-of-Government), the IRBM system features an integrated set of tools and techniques for improving development results…more than any other available performance management tool such as the BSC, TQM, BOS, etc.
IRBM Compliance Implications?
What does it mean for an organization to be “IRBM Compliant”. Why is this important?
Most, if not all development partners and donors have mandated recipient entities (countries, programs, projects etc) to be results-focused and to adopt managing for development results principles. Aid is now pegged to results and value for money criteria. Every aid or development dollar must be linked to a result area. Decisions need to be evidence-based; programs must comply with the theory of change and the program logic of such intervention programs; results must be focused on outcomes and outputs and not on activities and processes alone. When an organization or country for that matter is results-based and/or compliant with the IRBM system, it means that it meets with all requirements of aid partners and/or donors. Besides being compliant with the results mandates of funders and aid partners, the use of the IRBM system also helps improve the development results for an organization and/or country – a crucial success ingredient.
IRBM System & PReMaS©
How does MyPReMaS(TM) complement and strengthen IRBM Compliance? What is the relationship between MyPReMaS(TM) and the IRBM system?
While the IRBM system is an integrated system towards improving development management and development results, the MyPReMaS(TM) is an e-enabled version of the IRBM system. With its wide array of strategic planning and management tools and vital cross-linkages, the MyPReMaS(TM) makes the execution of all functions under the IRBM system a breeze. By providing an e-enabled IRBM version called the Performance & Results Management Solution or MyPReMaS(TM), the adoption and implementation of the IRBM system for an organization and/or an entire country is made both simpler and practical. The MyPReMaS(TM), with its wide range of management tools, makes the entire performance management process easy, practical, and results-based.
SDGs, IRBM & MyPReMaS(TM)
What is the link between the IRBM system, MyPReMaS(TM), and the Strategic Development Goals (SDGs)? The SDGs were launched in 2015 and have a major implication on all development efforts across all countries and development partners for the next 15 years. The SDGs have seventeen strategic targets compared to the eight under the MDGs…this poses serious challenges to the countries that are implementing the SDG targets.
In the case of developing countries, the challenge of achieving multi-faceted outcomes and impacts is multiplied manifold. Many developing countries lack the capacity and the capabilities to manage the development goals in an efficient and effective manner. Unless we change the way we are doing business, it would be an uphill battle to achieve the stated SDG targets within the SDG period. Another crucial factor is that developing countries DO NOT have the luxury of time to wait for the next fifteen years to achieve these priorities under their SDG action plans. We need to move fast and systematically to achieve the SDG targets in a much shorter time and in a much more cost-effective manner.
Given the above, the IRBM system holds much promise to help developing countries achieve the SDG targets in a much more efficient and definitive manner within even a shorter time period. It has been proven that adoption of the IRBM system on a whole of government basis can and will help improve development results dramatically within the space of 1-5 years depending on the maturity and status of the country concerned.
Further to the IRBM system, adoption of the e-enabled MyPReMaS(TM) application to support the IRBM system is assured of dramatically improving development planning and results across the board both at the agency level as well as the national level.
The IRBM system and the accompanying e-enabled MyPReMaS(TM) application are proven integrated approaches to improving development results.
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