Overcoming the Inadequacies of Performance Measurement in Local Government: The Case of Libraries and Leisure Services

• Published in: Public administration review Vol. 55; no. 1; pp. 37 - 47
• Main Author: Ammons, David N.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC American Society for Public Administration 01-01-1995; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: 2500; 9190; 9550; Accountability; Administrative management; Administrative science; Advocacy; Business metrics; Chief librarians; Cities; Comparative Analysis; Efficiency metrics; Evaluation; Expenditures; Government budgets; High School Students; Leisure; Libraries; Library associations; Library collections; Library management; Local Government; Management; Mass Media; Means of action of administration; Municipal services; Municipalities; Organizational behavior; Parks; Parks & recreation areas; Performance evaluation; Performance Factors; Performance measurement; Performance measures; Performance metrics; Productivity; Public administration; Public interest; Public Libraries; Public Opinion; Public policy; Public sector organizations; Public services; Quality of service; Recreation; Recreational Facilities; Resource Allocation; Standardized Tests; Total Quality Management; U.S.A; USA; Water Pollution; Workloads; North America; United States of America; United States > US; Productiveness; Public Utility; Local government; Public Relations; Leisure; Management of Administration; Library; Relations with Citizens; Case Study
• ISSN: 0033-3352; 1540-6210
• DOI: 10.2307/976826

What strategy could boost performance measurement in local government beyond the current level that finds most cities predominantly reporting raw workload figures, if they report any performance indicators whatsoever? The author argues that increased emphasis of relevant performance comparisons-with other local governments and with appropriate standards-could capture media and citizen attention and thereby prompt greater accountability. Evidence is presented showing that relevant standards and actual performance figures suitable for comparative purposes, though hardly plentiful, do exist in selected municipal functions.