This dialogue paper was written in reaction to Mark Hoffman's article and Kenneth Bush's response paper for the Berghof Handbook for Conflict Transformation. It aims to contribute to the ongoing methodological discourse from a development practitioner's perspective. A perspective that can be characterized by result orientation, creation of measurable benefits, cost-effectiveness considerations, and persistent issues of legitimisation towards partners in the host country vis-à-vis tax payers at home. In short, it is a perspective which is very much concerned with monitoring and evaluation of inputs, activities, outputs, the use of outputs and the assessment of outcomes and impacts. The paper takes up some of the methodological issues that have been raised in the academic argument between Hoffman and Bush and discusses them on the basis of the PIMU (Poverty Impact Monitoring Unit)/ CEPA (Centre for Poverty Analysis) experience.