Title: Performance measurement practices in Canadian government departments: a survey

Authors: Nelson Waweru, Marcela Porporato

Addresses: School of Administrative Studies, Atkinson Faculty of Liberal and Professional Studies, York University, 4700 Keele Street, Toronto, ON, M3J 1P3, Canada. ' School of Administrative Studies, Atkinson Faculty of Liberal and Professional Studies, York University, 4700 Keele Street, Toronto, ON, M3J 1P3, Canada

Abstract: This paper reports on a survey of performance measurement practices within a sample of Canadian government departments. The empirical findings indicate that performance measures were frequently used in the sample organisations and that these measures were, mainly, used to enhance programme effectiveness but the reporting was largely voluntary. Output measures were, mainly, reported to internal management although they were subjected to a verification process, mainly, by the auditor general. Overall, the elements of the new public management (NPM) have evolved to a large extent within the sample organisations while the results of the implementations are more conditioned by the understanding of the measures used than the availability of resources.

Keywords: Canada; effectiveness; efficiency; new public management; NPM; performance measurements; public sector; government departments.

DOI: 10.1504/IJAAPE.2008.020849

International Journal of Accounting, Auditing and Performance Evaluation, 2008 Vol.5 No.2, pp.183 - 202

Published online: 17 Oct 2008 *

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