OAM is a systematic process for obtaining valid information about the performance of an organization and the factors that affect its performance. It focuses on the functioning of organizations as the primary unit of analysis.

Outline of the approach being based on observing the relationships among staffs and organization units, OAM represents a particular way of looking at organizational structure and design. It gives attention to issues such as planning, delivering, operating, the delegation of authority, organizational control, role cascade and definitions, boundaries, responsibilities, and accountabilities.

OAM aims to help an organization defining and improving its overall performance through analyzing its service portfolios, process areas, relationship, organizational skills and information items. The factors embedded in the delivery, relations, competency and contextual environment all influence the performance of governing an organization. The overall organizational performance is defined in terms of effectiveness (mission fulfillment), efficiency (accuracy, timeliness and value of service and program delivery), ongoing relevance (the extent to which the organization adapts to changing conditions and its environment), and financial viability.

OAM is suitable to the nature of how the IT organization operates. It also posits that organizational performance should be examined in relation to the organization’s producing outcome capability and external environment.

OAM provides mappings with SFIA (skills framework for the information age) and hence provides practical implementation guidance for designing IT organization and talent management in it.