Twelve Years into the Performance Measurement Revolution: Where We Need to Go in Implementation Research

Abstract

The heightened interest in performance measurement (PM) in government holds tremendous promise for both academicians and practitioners. Indeed, under a best-case scenario, PM is a subject in which public administration researchers provide relevant information that informs practice and bolsters citizen views of government. However, as the authors contend, many fundamental questions remain regarding implementation. Moreover, the research methods generally deployed in PM research are unlikely to answer these questions, not the least of which is the cost-effectiveness of PM implementation. Thinking paradigmatically about PM research entails an appropriate linkage of important questions and appropriate research methods. Twelve years after the Governmental Accounting Standards Board first proposed Service Efforts and Accomplishment reporting, the authors believe it is time to begin as systematic approach to PM implementation. Public Administration as a discipline can make a huge contribution to public management with sound research in the PM arena. But achieving this end will not be easy in light of the discipline's historical research shortcomings.