Title: Monitoring water policies in the Netherlands: a rational, political and cultural approach to monitoring and utilisation

Authors: Dennis De Kool

Addresses: Erasmus University Rotterdam, Risbo, P.O. Box 1738, 3000 DR Rotterdam, The Netherlands

Abstract: New public management has been a catalyst for monitoring activities in the public sector. Although monitoring of policy processes is quite prevalent, the utilisation of these monitors remains under explored. This article analyses the utilisation of information generated by the annual report Water in Focus, by first looking at the characteristics of water policies in the Netherlands. It then distinguishes between theoretical approaches to utilising monitors and the critical factors for utilising monitors suggested by these approaches. Finally, it uses the case of the annual Water in Focus report to draw empirical and theoretical conclusions with respect to the utilisation of information from performance monitors.

Keywords: monitoring; utilisation; water policy; The Netherlands.

DOI: 10.1504/IJPSPM.2017.087652

International Journal of Public Sector Performance Management, 2017 Vol.3 No.4, pp.355 - 374

Received: 12 Dec 2016
Accepted: 15 Mar 2017
Published online: 18 Oct 2017 *

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