Reconfiguring Performance Information Linking with Accountability: Reporting and Internal Management

Performance Measurement Linking With Accountability

Do citizens care about what their government does? Performance information can fill the gap between government and citizens since it brings citizens’ attention and interest to government. It is often taken for granted that once performance measures are available in a report, accountability is largely achieved. When citizens are aware of performance information at large, accountability can be optimized (Simon & Ridley, 1938). Behn (2008) asserted the importance of performance reporting to citizens through analysis of the Baltimore CitiStat performance measurement initiative. He found that citizens pay less attention to government managerial strategies. Instead, they care about the results of those strategies. Berman (2006) reconfirmed the interests of citizens is in knowing more about their government. “Managing for results” information, however, is hard to obtain in a way that can be understood by citizens. The general public has neither the time nor the background to interpret statistical tables in an intelligent manner. Reporting performance measurement to citizens should be tailored using an explanatory method.