Facts, findings, lessons, and recommendations

I have often found that the distinctions between facts, findings, lessons, and recommendations are not well understood. Many World Bank documents mix them up. The following table has proved useful in explaining the distinctions.

	What is it?	Example	Intent
Fact	What happened – an event and data (results). Not in dispute.	“The project manager was dismissed in Year 5”	Provides the story line.
Finding	What the analyst interpreted from the factual events, establishing the significance of the facts recorded. Can be arguable.	“Mainly because replacement of the project manager was delayed, the project did not meet its targets”	Draws conclusions (from the facts) specific to the project.
Lesson	The broader significance of a finding.	“Poor performance by project managers can critically affect project outcomes.”	Draws a general conclusion from experience beyond the single instance of the operation under review.
Recommendation	Suggests how to proceed in the future in the light of this experience.	“Ensure that key project management positions are filled with competent staff. Ensure this through appropriate covenants and prompt supervision follow-up”	An imperative; proposes action(s).