Viewing Performance Through Different Lenses—The Role of Organisational Context and Culture
An understanding of different frameworks that exist in discussions about public sector performance and their implications is an important foundation for the effective use of performance information. However, presentations of performance information rarely include commentary on the merits and limitations of the framework used. Six common frameworks are identified and some key implications discussed. It is argued that while all have potential to be used for the purposes of accountability and management, if used in isolation each gives only a selective perspective. Some key challenges in applying these frameworks are determining the outcomes or results performance should be judged against, having a clear and explicit basis for setting targets and being able to meaningfully explain the contribution a particular intervention has made to the results observed. The performance review work of ombudsmen and audit institutions is analysed in relation to these six frameworks to illustrate the role of organisational context and cultures. The differences in organisational context and cultures are found to have a significant influence on the methods and processes involved, but it is also evident that many common features exist in both the products and impacts. It is concluded both from the general analysis as well as the case study comparing the approaches of two accountability agencies that there is value in diversity, and that using more than one approach has the potential to enrich our understanding. Whether one or multiple frameworks are used should always be based on consideration of both the cost and benefits involved.
Public sector performance Performance information frameworks Performance review Ombudsman and audit institutions
Peter Wilkins
Deputy Ombudsman Western Australia School of Accounting and The John Curtin Institute of Public Policy,Curtin University of Technology, Western Australia Public Sector Governance and Accountability Research Centre, La Trobe University, Victoria, Australia
国际会议
2010 International Conference on Public Administration(6th)(2010 第六届公共管理国际会议)
澳大利亚堪培拉
英文
495-502
2010-10-22（万方平台首次上网日期，不代表论文的发表时间）