What is MicroTest? MicroTest is a management tool that helps your microenterprise agency gauge and improve its performance and client outcomes.

MicroTest’s Mission: To help microenterprise programs assess and improve performance

MicroTest was founded on the belief that widespread use of microenterprise performance standards will:

  • Improve performance and organizational stability within the industry,
  • Increase the availability of efficient and effective services for clients, and
  • Help to make the case for increasing levels of support for effective microenterprise programs.

"As a performance-based organization, we establish annual goals for both the organization and each individual position. For organizational goals, we use several MicroTest performance measures that in turn help WEB staff work together as a team.

As a MicroTest member, we receive a detailed report showing WEB's performance. ... Now, after five years, we can look at our trends for each performance measure and compare these trends to other organizations with similar characteristics. This helps us focus on being one of the best in our industry."

Amanda Crook Zinn
Women Entrepreneurs of Baltimore, Inc. (WEB)
Baltimore, MD

MicroTest Products & Services
MicroTest offers you the following:

  • A tested and proven set of performance measures, used by dozens of agencies and endorsed by the Association for Enterprise Opportunity.
  • Tools to assess program performance and track client outcomes.
  • An in-depth, two-day training on performance and outcomes tracking.
  • Technical assistance to improve your performance and outcomes tracking.
  • Expert consulting to assist you to analyze and use your MicroTest data and reports.
  • Comprehensive and customized reports on your performance and your clients’ outcomes.
  • An annual meeting where you connect to a community of practitioners committed to improving performance.
  • The latest best practice resources and findings from FIELD.

How MicroTest Helps Your Program
Using MicroTest you can:

  • Assess its overall performance using a nationally recognized set of measures,
  • Benchmark its performance against organizations with similar characteristics,
  • Determine how to direct its resources toward improved program performance,
  • Demonstrate to donors and clients your program’s commitment to high performance
  • Maintain a pulse on industry trends and top performance, and
  • Connect to a community of practitioners seriously engaged in improving performance and client outcomes.

How to Learn More
The MicroTest team includes staff and consultants of the FIELD program at the Aspen Institute:

Tamra Thetford, Research Projects Manager
David Black, Program Manager
Joyce Klein, Senior Consultant to FIELD
Elaine Edgcomb, Director of FIELD

For further information about MicroTest, contact: microtest@aspeninst.org

202-736-1089 (phone)
202-467-0790 (fax)
 
The Aspen Institute • One Dupont Circle, NW • Suite 700 • Washington, DC 20036
Phone: 202.736.1071 • Fax: 202.467.0790 • e-mail: fieldus@aspeninst.org