Public Service Agencies Performance Measurement

Public Program Evluation: Quality Performance Measurement

Annotated Bibliography

Caiden, GE and Caiden, NJ (nd) Measuring Performance in Public Sector Programs. Public Administration and Public Policy. Vol. II. Retrieved from: http://www.eolss.net/sample-chapters/c14/E1-34-05-06.pdf

Caiden and Caiden (nd) report that the link between reforms and public measurement and evaluation were not merely chance since as the reforms developed devolution was emphasized or the moving of functions and services to the government levels that were lower, along with an emphasis on privatization, decentralization of management, transparency and satisfaction of customers. It is reported that all of these were dependent on accountability maintenance and credibility.

Poister, T. (2001) Measuring Performance in Public and Non-Profit Organizations. Jossey-Bass. Retrieved from: http://glennschool.osu.edu/faculty/brown/home/810/Class%20Materials/Poister%20Performance%20Chapters%201,%202,%203.pdf

Poister (2001) writes that performance measures are "objective, quantitative indicators" of a range of performance in public programs or for public agencies. (p.3) This work reviews the early development and background of performance measurement and ensues on a review of performance measurement in the non-profit sector. The functions of performance measurement are reviewed including monitoring and reporting, strategic planning and other aspects of performance measurement.

3. Ammons, DN (2007) A Tool for Accountability and Performance Improvement. Article 16. County and Municipal Government in North Carolina. Retrieved from: http://www.sogpubs.unc.edu/cmg/cmg16.pdf

The work of Ammons reviews the types of performance measures including: (1) output or workload measures; (2) measures of efficiency; and (3) outcome or effectiveness measures. The development of performance measures is reviewed as well as other aspects of performance measures including budgeting.

4. Bouvard, F., et al. (2011) Better for Less: Improving Public Sector Performance on a Tight Budget. Discussion Paper. McKinsey & Company. 2011 Jul. Retrieved from: [HIDDEN]

Bouvard et al. examines the core principles in the improvement of performance in the public sector and actions for government leaders. Also examined are the potential impact of performance improvement in the public sector and the need for public sector performance.

5. Lichiello, P. (2012) Guidebook for Performance Measurement. The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Turning Point. Retrieved from: http://www.phf.org/resourcestools/documents/pmcguidebook.pdf

Lichiello (2012) examines the definition of performance measurement and the reasons that performance measurement is important. Key elements in the development of a performance measurement process that is effective are examined and result reporting is analyzed.

6. Performance Measurement (2013) Urban Institute Press. 2nd ed. Chapter One. Retrieved from: http://www.urban.org/books/performancemeasurement/chapter1.cfm

This work in writing published by the Urban Institute Press relates that there are many meaning that can be applied to performance measurement however; this study defines performance measurement as "regular measurement of the results (outcomes) and efficiency of services or programs." (p. 1) Reported as the new component in this definition is measurement of performance that is conducted on a regular basis and as such is focused on specific outcomes in what is a process that is oriented towards customers and brings about maximization of benefits and simultaneously minimizes any consequences that are of a negative nature. Lastly, employees should be made aware of performance measurement programs.

7. Fernando, A. And Sanchez, J. (nd) Towards a Measurement of the Public Services Productivity: A Practitioner's Guide. Retrieved from: http://reser.net/materiali/priloge/slo/snchez.pdf

Fernando and Sanchez report that public services productivity measurement is a complex task. Stated specifically in this work is that the service process "is the economic activity carried out to transform inputs into out-puts." (p. 3) The service process is reported to make provision of the framework needed for analysis of the public function.

8. Service the American Public: Best Practices in Performance Measurement (1997) Benchmark Study. National Performance Review. Retrieved from: http://govinfo.library.unt.edu/npr/library/papers/benchmrk/nprbook.html

Findings in this study include that leadership is crucial in the design and deployment of performance measurement systems that are effective and that a conceptual framework is required for measuring performance. In addition, this study reports finding that critical to performance management that is successful are communications internally and externally that are effective. It is also reported in this study that the provision of performance measurements systems for decision makers includes intelligence rather than just a compilation of data and that performance measurements must be connected to recognition, compensation and rewards.