Why measure performance? Different purposes require different measures

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Behn, RD
• 署名单位: Harvard University
• 刊物名称: PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION REVIEW
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0033-3352
• DOI: 10.1111/1540-6210.00322
• 发表日期: 2003
• 页码: 586-606
• 关键词: local-government; management; outcomes; LESSONS; state; FAILURE; systems

摘要

Performance measurement is not an end in itself So why should public managers measure performance? Because they may find such measures helpful in achieving eight specific managerial purposes. As part of their overall management strategy, public managers con use performance measures to evaluate, control, budget, motivate, promote, celebrate, learn, and improve. Unfortunately, no single performance measure is appropriate for all eight purposes. Consequently, public managers should not seek the one magic performance measure. Instead, they need to think seriously about the managerial purposes to which performance measurement might contribute and how they might deploy these measures. Only then can they select measures with the characteristics necessary to help achieve each purpose. Without at least a tentative theory about how performance measures con be employed to foster improvement (which is the core purpose behind the other seven), public managers will be unable to decide what should be measured.