Next Steps in Improving Government Performance

Have government reformers been putting the chicken before the egg? For years, their attention has been on improving performance by focusing on program results.  But a new study released today by the National Academy of Public Administration says a key step has been missing in that approach. The Academy’s study questions the progress of performance improvement efforts over the past two decades, asking: “To what extent has the government’s capacity improved as a result of these management initiatives?” After reviewing Government Accounting Office reports and other studies, it concludes: “Based on limited evidence, the record is mixed.”