Performance measurement as a tool for modernising government

Annex A

Twelve Key Questions

About performance management systems.

1. What are your priorities for change, and how are you monitoring progress on them?
2. How is monitoring of progress linked to managerial decision-making?
3. How do you research which targets are appropriate, and which are misleading or distorting?
4. How do you know that targets and measures seem real to those at the front line?
5. Which are the major areas where performance must be maintained? How are you monitoring them?
6. When did you last review your system to ensure it remains relevant and the measures appropriate? Did you use an outside agency?

 

About particular performance measures and targets

7. What decisions will you be able to make now you are measuring this?
8. What is "good" performance, and what is "poor" performance on this measure?
9. Which critical aspects of the service are not being measured, and how are you monitoring them?
10. What are the likely perverse incentives generated by this target? How are you monitoring them?
11. How are you continually refining your definition for this measure/target, in the light of experience?
12. How do you know the data is really accurate … and are you sure?

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