Monitoring data are the building blocks for learning and adapting in the Program Cycle. They assist in understanding what is working and what is not in terms of achieving objectives. If data are not of good quality, however, they can be misleading and possibly result in the wrong decisions being made.
Due to the importance of these data, there are some things Missions or Washington Operating Units (OUs) should consider for all data being collected through monitoring efforts. Specifically, where will the data come from, what level of quality are the data expected to be, how will data be gathered and stored to protect integrity, and the privacy of those people from which data were collected?
Thinking about and planning around all of these data-related issues can help ensure that data are of sufficient quality to be useful for the Mission, Agency, and other stakeholders as they continue to make important strategy and programming decisions.