Capacity for public administration: analysis of meaning and measurement

Abstract

SUMMARYPublic administration researchers and practitioners have placed a heavy emphasis on the theme of programme performance. More recently, there has been a growing sentiment in the literature about the integral role of organisational capacity in achieving performance. While this is often expressed in the (re)iteration of a 'management matters' mantra, we see some disarray in the broader capacity literature both in definition and application. As scholars call for more integrated models of governance that link, for example, capacity and performance, we see a growing need for an analysis of the concept of capacity. Using bibliometric and content analyses to explore scholarly treatment of capacity constructs, this article assesses whether the perceived disarray is real, and if so what consequences it might have. We do so by reporting on capacity's meaning and measurement through an analysis of four decades of the private, public and nonprofit management literatures. While specific definitions of capacity are, by nature, context dependent, we conclude by distilling a general, conceptual framework of capacity for public management researchers and practitioners.

The Adoption of Outcome Measurement in Human Service Nonprofits

“…Following past research, we classify organizational capacity into six dimensions: financial capacity, human resource capacity, technical capacity, administrative capacity, political capacity, and network capacity Berman & Wang, 2010;Christensen & Gazley, 2008;Hatry et al, 2003;Poole, David, Reisman, & Nelson, 2001;Tuckman & Chang, 1991).…”

“…Last, networking with other organizations and managing networks have been discussed in the literature as another dimension of organizational capacity (e.g., Christensen & Gazley, 2008;Eisinger, 2002;Moore, 2003). Obtaining all resources necessary for outcome measurement is difficult for a single nonprofit.…”

“…We measure political capacity through the survey item, "Our organization frequently discusses operational issues with stakeholders" (Héritier, 2003). Lastly, given that outcome measurement may require various resources from external help networks, network capacity is measured by asking "Our organization seeks help from other organizations to improve decision making" (Christensen & Gazley, 2008;Eisinger, 2002). Except financial capacity, which is a continuous variable, the dimensions of organizational capacity are measured on five point scales, with higher scores indicating higher capacities.…”

A diagnostic framework for biodiversity conservation institutions

“…All the components in the two practices categories of this framework (both capacity and competence) contribute to competence in the Pragmatist view, but this component specifically deals with the basic resources and conditions necessary to competently and effectively carry out management (Christensen and Gazley 2008). In this framework it is comprised of human resources, financial resources, and institutional and organizational practices.…”

Does local government have capacity for enabling local economic development? Lessons from Jamaica

“…Nonetheless, neither acknowledgment of the significance of institutions and institutional capacity,noruse of both concepts in development discourses has clarified precisely the meaning of capacity (see e.g. Kaplan 2000;Christensen and Gazley 2008). In Kaplan's (2000) view the visible elements of human and material resources, organisational structure and procedures, do not tell the whole story about organisational performance.…”