Performance measurement in universities: ambiguities in the use of quality versus quantity in performance indicators

Abstract

Performance measurement (PM) is now common in Western universities. This is also the case in Finland, where a new funding scheme was implemented to ensure that quality was included in universities’ PM. However, this paper shows that the quality indicators in use are, in practice, quantitative. The paper is based on a large survey and has implications for university PM systems in Finland and internationally.

Keywords:

• Academic publishing
• Finland
• performance measurement
• universities’ economy
• efficiency and effectiveness

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Kirsi-Mari Kallio

Kirsi-Mari Kallio is an Adjunct Professor in Accounting and Finance at Turku School of Economics at the University of Turku, Finland.

Tomi J. Kallio

Tomi J. Kallio is an Adjunct Professor of Management and Organization at Turku School of Economics at the University of Turku, Finland.

Giuseppe Grossi

Giuseppe Grossi is a Professor in Public Management and Accounting at the School of Health and Society, Kristianstad University, Sweden and Research Professor at Kozminski University, Poland.