performance measure. A yardstick or standard used to measure progress toward achieving a strategic objective. a measure of how well we are doing; an outcome measure.

Strategic elements of incident management are characterized by continuous long-term, high-level planning by organizations headed by elected or other senior officials. These elements involve the adoption of long-range goals and objectives, the setting of priorities, the establishment of budgets and other fiscal decisions, policy development, and the application of measures of performance or effectiveness.

As used in this document, information that permits users at the highest levels of government to define a high-priority issue, identify and relate broad but pivotal issues, and understand the most significant elements so as to arrive at an informed decision.

Public relations activities with the goal of delivering a specific outcome.

The plan is strategic in that elements are included only if they are considered important enough to affect goal achievement.

A future-oriented perspective where foundation decisions are made based on an analysis of external and internal trends and data.