The Performance Puzzle: Understanding the Factors Influencing Alternative Dimensions and Views of Performance

Abstract

There is a large literature on the determinants of organizational performance, and its multi-dimensional nature is well-recognized. However, little research examines how different organizational and environmental factors influence different stakeholders' performance assessments of the same service. We address this gap by comparing the factors influencing performance evaluations by different constituencies of child care centers in Ohio. We operationalize performance using: (1) regulatory violations documented during state licensing inspections, (2) satisfaction with the center's quality reported by center directors, (3) satisfaction with the center's quality reported by teachers, and (4) satisfaction with care quality reported by parents. Our findings suggest that different organizational and environmental factors are associated with the performance assessments of different constituencies. In addition, some of these constituency assessments appear to influence each other.

Performance in Public Organizations: Clarifying the Conceptual Space

“…First, aspects related to process are not included (e.g., accountability, probity, participation, due process), and these aspects can be very important in public organizations (Moynihan et al 2011 ;Walker, Boyne, and Brewer 2010 ). Second, identifying the stakeholders is central in defining performance because it is otherwise unclear who has the legitimate right to define what good performance is (Amirkhanyan, Kim, and Lambright 2014 ;Andrews, Boyne, and Walker 2006b ). Third, ambiguity about the relevant units of analysis can hinder comparisons of different performance studies.…”

Effects of different policy approaches on sport facility utilisation strategies

“…_ 1 ) T D $ F I G ] The discussion in this section places the different types of sport facilities on the 'publicness' grid. Using insights from public administration literature as well as the knowledge about non-profit private institutions in general (Amirkhanyan, Kim, & Lambright, 2014;Ibsen & Habermann, 2006;Thøgersen, 2013) we assess the degree of 'publicness' of sport facilities (Fig. 2).…”

An empirical typology of private child and family serving agencies

“…Internal management capacity was measured using three variables known to affect agency adaptation and performance: agency age (Aldrich & Ruef, 2006; Hannan & Freeman, 1984), administrative infrastructure (Hou et al, 2003), and size (Amirkhanyan, Kim, & Lambright, 2013). Age was operationalized as the number of years the agency reported being in operation.…”