Taking Stock of Performance Measurement: Information Resources for Public Managers.(Brief Article)

This article summarizes the resources currently available on performance measurement and benchmarking. It covers key publications, training, and Web sites from the GFOA and other national organizations.

Searching for information about performance measurement and benchmarking can be a daunting task. A Web search can turn up hundreds of entries. Dozens of organizations publish monographs, offer training programs, maintain Web sites, and provide consulting services on the subject. Wading through the morass of Web sites and slick promotional brochures is enough to turn off all but the most intrepid researchers. To assist you in your research, the GFOA staff has compiled a survey of performance measurement information resources that will help cut through all the clutter and find the information that you need.

GFOA staff members often get inquiries from finance officers wanting to know: Where can I find basic, jargon-free information about performance measurement? What if I want to know more about regional benchmarking? What about linking performance measurement to decision making in the budget process? To answer these and related questions, this article provides a snapshot of selected informational and training resources available on the Web and through major associations focused on financial management issues. It is based on a more comprehensive review of performance initiatives commissioned by the GFOA Committee on Governmental Budgeting and Management at its Winter 2001 meeting.

Getting Started

Taking the first step toward implementing a performance measurement system can be difficult without a good grasp of the basic concepts, techniques, and uses of performance measures. The resources listed below can help beginners answer basic questions like:

* What is performance measurement?

* What are the different types of performance measures?