--- title: Outcomes - Tactical Outcomes description: Setup and details about Tactical outcome from Outcomes. --- [Skip to content](https://help.ideascale.com/tactical-outcomes#main-content) English Show submenu for translations [![IdeaScale](https://help.ideascale.com/hs-fs/hubfs/ideascale-logo.png?width=223&height=31&name=ideascale-logo.png)](https://help.ideascale.com/?hsLang=en) Open main navigation Close main navigation - English Show submenu for translations - [Go to ideascale.com](https://ideascale.com/) [Go to ideascale.com](https://ideascale.com/) Hi!👋 How can we help you today? - There are no suggestions because the search field is empty. 1. [IdeaScale Support Center](https://help.ideascale.com/?hsLang=en) 2. [Reporting](https://help.ideascale.com/reporting?hsLang=en) 3. [Outcomes](https://help.ideascale.com/reporting?hsLang=en#outcomes) # Outcomes - Tactical Outcomes ## Setup and details of Tactical Outcomes in Outcomes **Path: Workspace Homepage \>\> Navigation Panel \>\> Reporting \>\> Outcomes** | **What are Tactical Outcomes?** | | --- | | Tactical Outcomes are the idea-level hypotheses — the specific, measurable claims about what an individual idea will deliver if it is implemented. | Where a **Strategic Outcome** is an organization-wide target, a **Tactical Outcome** is tied to a single idea: for example, 'Automating this approval workflow is estimated to reduce processing time by 3 hours per week per team, saving approximately $40,000 annually.' Tactical Outcomes do not need to be completed at the time of idea submission. It can be configured to appear at any stage in the funnel. This keeps submission frictionless for contributors while ensuring accountability for ideas that progress toward implementation. --- ### Role Permissions - **Workspace Administrator:** Can add check-in & close Tactical Outcomes from the Outcomes Dashboard but cannot create or assign them to ideas. - **Community Administrator, Campaign & Custom Administrator:** Do not have access to Tactical Outcomes - **Community & Campaign Moderator:** Can create, edit, add a check-in and close a Tactical Outcome from the Idea detail page & Idea portfolio. They can also assign an existing Theme & Strategic Outcome to an idea. - **Custom field Moderator:** Can only assign a Tactical Outcome to ideas with their custom field only, on the Idea details page & Idea Portfolio. They can also assign an existing Theme & Strategic Outcome to the idea. - **Idea Owners:** Can create, edit,add a check-in and close a Tactical Outcome from the Idea Details page & Idea Portfolio for their owned ideas only. They can also assign an existing Theme & Strategic Outcome to those ideas. They cannot see themes of other ideas. --- **TABLE OF CONTENTS** [Tactical Outcomes Setup](https://help.ideascale.com/tactical-outcomes#setup) [Tactical Outcome Progress & Results](https://help.ideascale.com/tactical-outcomes#progress-result) [Outcomes Dashboard](https://help.ideascale.com/tactical-outcomes#dashboard) [Exceptions](https://help.ideascale.com/tactical-outcomes#Exceptions) [Frequently Asked Questions](https://help.ideascale.com/tactical-outcomes#faq) --- ### Tactical Outcomes Setup A Tactical Outcome can be associated with an idea from either the Idea Details Page, the Idea Portfolio or the Moderation Dashboard: opening the idea's detail section from either location and selecting **+ Add Tactical Outcome** under **Linked Outcomes** presents the same fields. Idea Details Page:![](https://help.ideascale.com/hs-fs/hubfs/undefined-Jul-03-2026-04-39-49-4739-AM.png?width=670&height=449&name=undefined-Jul-03-2026-04-39-49-4739-AM.png) Idea Portfolio:![](https://help.ideascale.com/hs-fs/hubfs/undefined-Jul-03-2026-04-39-48-9461-AM.png?width=670&height=289&name=undefined-Jul-03-2026-04-39-48-9461-AM.png) Moderator Dashboard:![](https://help.ideascale.com/hs-fs/hubfs/undefined-Nov-04-2026-01-02-16-9354-AM.png?width=670&height=352&name=undefined-Nov-04-2026-01-02-16-9354-AM.png) **Note:** A Strategic Outcome must also be associated with the Tactical Outcome for it to appear on the Outcomes Dashboard. #### Outcome Fields To create a new outcome, select **+ Add Tactical Outcome**, complete the following fields, and select **Save**: ![](https://help.ideascale.com/hs-fs/hubfs/undefined-Nov-04-2026-01-03-39-1118-AM.png?width=670&height=393&name=undefined-Nov-04-2026-01-03-39-1118-AM.png) **1. Outcome Name:** The desired name for the Tactical Outcome. **2. Measurement Type:** Quantitative or Qualitative **3. Metric Type:** Count, Time, Percentage, Cost, or Score. **4. Unit:** The metric unit (e.g., ideas, percentage, time). **5. Direction:** Increase or Decrease, depending on the nature of the goal — for example, increasing production or decreasing processing time. **6. Baseline (Optional):** A starting numeric value for the outcome. **7. Target:** The target numeric value for the outcome. **8. Timeframe:** A numeric value plus Days, Weeks, Months, or Years needed to achieve the outcome. A Tactical Outcome can only be set while the idea is in a non-implemented stage. Edit and Delete options are available, but check-ins & Close are not. ![](https://help.ideascale.com/hs-fs/hubfs/undefined-Jul-03-2026-04-39-47-8903-AM.png?width=670&height=420&name=undefined-Jul-03-2026-04-39-47-8903-AM.png) Once an idea moves to an implemented stage, its status shows as **Pending** until the first check-in is entered. ![](https://help.ideascale.com/hs-fs/hubfs/undefined-Jul-03-2026-04-39-47-5276-AM.png?width=670&height=575&name=undefined-Jul-03-2026-04-39-47-5276-AM.png) --- ### Tactical Outcome Progress & Results Once the idea with an associated Tactical Outcome is moved to an implemented stage, check-in details can be added. ![](https://help.ideascale.com/hs-fs/hubfs/undefined-Nov-04-2026-01-05-30-6853-AM.png?width=670&height=394&name=undefined-Nov-04-2026-01-05-30-6853-AM.png) **Date:** A past or current date from the date picker. Future dates cannot be selected. **Actual Value:** The value of the outcome for the selected date. **Status:** On Track (value within target), At Risk (value slightly off target), or Off Track (value well off target). **Notes:** Optional details about the entered value. Progress and results appear on the Idea Details Page and Idea Portfolio, showing the current status, a progress bar, and check-in history (date, status, value, and the name and avatar of the person who logged the check-in). The actual result also flows up to the parent Strategic Outcome, appearing in leadership reporting. ![Screenshot 2026-07-01 at 10.28.45 AM](https://help.ideascale.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Screenshot%202026-07-01%20at%2010.28.45%20AM.png?width=670&height=491&name=Screenshot%202026-07-01%20at%2010.28.45%20AM.png) **Note:** Moving an idea to an earlier stage will keep the check-in details in the background, that reappears once the idea is moved back to the implemented stage. #### Close The tactical outcome can be closed once it is complete or abandoned for any reason. Selecting **Close** opens a module for ending the Tactical Outcome, with the following fields: 1. **How did this outcome end?:** Select Achieved or Missed to indicate if the target was met or missed. 2. **Closing Notes:** An optional field for adding additional context about the outcome closing. ![](https://help.ideascale.com/hs-fs/hubfs/undefined-Nov-04-2026-01-08-20-0236-AM.png?width=670&height=422&name=undefined-Nov-04-2026-01-08-20-0236-AM.png) Once closed, it will retain all the check-in history and show the details such as changed status (Achieved or Missed), Closed date, Closing notes and an option to Reopen the outcome. ![](https://help.ideascale.com/hs-fs/hubfs/undefined-Nov-04-2026-01-08-52-3068-AM.png?width=1882&height=1306&name=undefined-Nov-04-2026-01-08-52-3068-AM.png) --- ### Outcomes Dashboard Once configured, Tactical Outcomes appear as measurable targets within each Strategic Theme on the leadership dashboard. As linked ideas progress to an implemented stage — marked by the **Report as Implemented** designation — their results roll up into the corresponding Strategic Outcome, giving leadership a live, consolidated view of how innovation activity contributes to each organizational goal. How this roll-up is displayed, including the Estimated/Measured terminology used at the dashboard level, is covered in the Outcomes Dashboard article. Linked ideas surface under each Strategic Theme's Strategic Outcome in two locations — the **Theme Tab** and the **Strategic Outcomes Tab** under **Contributing Ideas** section. The Tactical Outcome for each individual idea can be explored further by selecting the respective contributing idea.   ![](https://help.ideascale.com/hs-fs/hubfs/undefined-Nov-04-2026-01-10-02-3199-AM.jpeg?width=670&height=342&name=undefined-Nov-04-2026-01-10-02-3199-AM.jpeg) --- ### Exceptions 1. Idea Stage: A Tactical Outcome can only be created while its idea is in a non-implemented stage. Once created, it can still be edited or deleted before implementation, but check-ins cannot be logged until the idea moves to an implemented stage. 2. Check-in Date: A check-in cannot be logged with a future date. Only past or current dates can be selected from the date picker when logging a check-in against a Tactical Outcome. --- ### Frequently Asked Questions **Can a Tactical Outcome be added after an idea has already moved to an implemented stage?** No. A Tactical Outcome can only be created while the idea is in a non-implemented stage. See Exceptions above. **Why does a Tactical Outcome show a Pending status right after an idea is implemented?** Pending indicates that no check-in has been logged yet for that Tactical Outcome. The status remains Pending until the first check-in is entered. **Does a Tactical Outcome need a Strategic Outcome to be useful?** A Tactical Outcome can be created and tracked without a linked Strategic Outcome, but a Strategic Outcome must also be associated with it for the Tactical Outcome to appear on the Outcomes Dashboard. **Where can a Tactical Outcome's progress be viewed after check-ins begin?** On the Idea Details Page and the Idea Portfolio, both of which show the current status, a progress bar, and the full check-in history for that Tactical Outcome. --- **Related Articles** - Help Article for Strategic Outcomes - Help Article for Outcomes Dashboard Last Updated: November 4, 2026 - [Product Updates](https://help.ideascale.com/product-updates?hsLang=en#main-content) - [2026](https://help.ideascale.com/product-updates?hsLang=en#2026) - [2025](https://help.ideascale.com/product-updates?hsLang=en#2025) - [Workspace](https://help.ideascale.com/workspace?hsLang=en#main-content) - 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