Performance Information for Democracy

Abstract

This article examines research into the use of performance information by ministers, parliamentarians and citizens. These 'end users' are of crucial importance to the claim that performance information is not merely managerially useful, but also contributes to the quality of democratic debate and to the ability of citizens to make choices. A literature review indicates that research into use by these groups has been very patchy, and that much of what we do know suggests that evaluations and performance reports and audits are seldom highly valued by politicians or citizens. Possible reasons and remedies for this apparent state of affairs are discussed, and areas for further research are suggested. K E Y WO R D S : citizens; evaluation; performance information; politiciansEvaluation is so important to any democratic society. It benefits those who make decisions about policy, and it benefits the citizens who have to live with those decisions, once made. (Chelimsky, 1997: 52) The current focus on performance measurement at all levels of government . . . reflects citizen demands for evidence of program effectiveness that have been made around the world. (Wholey and Newcomer, 1997: 92) Evaluation

Literature review and challenging research agenda on politicians’ use of accounting information

“…In a review paper about public sector performance management research, Pollitt (2006) warned us 10 years ago that politicians were the missing link in this field. Although some studies about politicians' use of financial and performance information-or, more generally, accounting information-have been published, the problem is still largely under-researched.…”

Use of performance information by local politicians: a field study in the Portuguese context

“…Prior research has focusing on questions like 'who' is using performance information, 'when' and 'how' it is being used, and 'which' (institutional, organizational and individual) factors are influencing that use (Pollitt, 2006b;Hammerschmid et al, 2013). Differences on the use of performance information can be associated with the country specific culture and administrative context and its orientation to NPM agenda (Bouckaert and Halligan, 2008), with the attitude and social norms toward the use of performance information (Julnes and Holzer, 2001;Kroll, 2013), as well as with the organizational and individual factors (Cavalluzzo and Ittner, 2004;Askim, 2007;Walker et al, 2011;Hammerschmid et al, 2013).…”

“…Many of prior studies emphasize the use for managerial purposes (see for example Julnes and Holzer, 2001;Modell, 2001;Cavalluzzo and Ittner, 2004;Moynihan and Pandey, 2010;Hammer schmid et al, 2013;Kroll, 2013) neglecting the use by 'end users' and the importance of performance information in the political sphere (Pollitt, 2006a(Pollitt, , 2006b. Focusing the analysis on the performance evaluation process, the literature indicates that politicians rarely use this information to evaluate their professional managers (Ter Bogt, 2001Budding, 2004;Pollitt, 2006b;Jansen, 2008). As was concluded by Ter Bogt (2004:241) 'it seems reasonable to conclude that many aldermen see little value in the outputoriented performance information that is available in the planning and control documents of their organizations and that they use it infrequently' .…”

“…However, our knowledge regarding whether and how politicians use performance information is limited by a lack of theoretical, practical, and empirical evidence (Jackson, 1993;Hein rich, 1999;Ter Bogt, 2001;Pollitt, 2006aPollitt, , 2006bAskim, 2007;Moynihan and Pandey, 2010). Several prior studies cover the managers' experiences working with performance management practices (see for example Modell, 2001;Cavalluzzo and Ittner, 2004;Hammerschmid et al, 2013;Kroll, 2013) but do not evidence the use on the political sphere where the actions and the needs of performance information are likely to differ.…”

“…As argued by Pollitt (2006b), politicians and citizens are 'missing links' in most academic re search. The papers of Ter Bogt (2003Bogt ( , 2004 and Askim (2007) are the only known to have directly studied politicians' use of performance information.…”