The journey
In pursuing process optimisation, lean product management, and development excellence, the contributors examined industry practices, models, and frameworks for a better way to navigate modern product development.
Our journey to CLEAR
Outcome-based freedom needs clarity, alignment, and accountability.
CLEAR grew from practical work in process optimisation, lean product management, change, transformation, and development excellence. It is now maintained as a free, nonprofit initiative and open public resource.
The epiphany
Successful organisations repeatedly focused on outcomes instead of treating rigid, step-by-step procedures as the purpose. Procedures can provide necessary structure, consistency, and control; outcome-based working gives teams room to adapt how they create the intended result.
The challenge
Outcome language can be misunderstood. People may interpret the same goal differently, optimise a convenient measure, or satisfy the minimum wording without embracing its intent. Freedom in method is useful only when the intended outcome, objective, evidence, feasibility, and review expectations are sufficiently clear.
The response
The CLEAR Outcomes Methodology was created as a standardised approach to defining and achieving outcomes: Clear and Concise, Linked to Objectives, Evaluative and Measurable, Achievable and Realistic, and Revisited and Reviewed.
Why it matters
The purpose is to help teams retain flexibility and creativity while improving shared understanding, strategic alignment, measurability, realistic ownership, and continuous improvement. CLEAR defines the quality of an outcome; it does not replace the professional processes, controls, or methods required by a domain.
Clarity of intent. Freedom in method. Discipline in evidence. Learning through review.
Contributors
The people named in the original methodology.
Authorship is part of the methodology’s history and should remain visible as the work evolves.
Anshul Lalit
Dedicated to refining processes and fostering innovation, with experience in process optimisation and lean product management.
Ania Mendoz
Change-management and process-transformation expertise that helped shape the methodology and its practical application.
Names and descriptions reproduce the attribution published on the original 2024 website. Contributor spelling and future role descriptions remain subject to author confirmation.
Free, nonprofit, and under evidence-informed development.
The five original components remain the public identity of CLEAR. Expanded definitions, diagnostic questions, examples, and resources are working material being prepared for cross-industry practitioner review.
Read the evidence and validation approachCreative Commons BY-SA 4.0.
CLEAR resources may be shared and adapted, including commercially, with appropriate attribution, an indication of changes, and distribution of adaptations under the same license.
Read the license