Understanding Performance Measures

Why is performance measurement important? All recipients of OJJDP funding are required to collect and report data that measure the results of funded activities to ensure compliance with the Government Performance and Results Act of 1993. According to the Act, reporting performance measures promote: public confidence in the federal government by systematically holding federal agencies accountable for achieving program results. program effectiveness, service delivery, and accountability by focusing on results, service quality, and customer satisfaction. enhanced congressional decision-making.

Performance measurement is a system of tracking progress of the chosen activities in accomplishing specific goals, objectives, and outcomes.

Performance measurement:

• is directly related to program goals and objectives.



• measures progress of the activities quantitatively.



• is not exhaustive.



• provides a temperature reading—it may not tell you everything you want to know but provides a quick and reliable gauge of selected results.

Definitions

Performance measures/performance indicators are particular values used to measure program outputs or outcomes. They represent the data/information that will be collected at the program level to measure the specific outputs and outcomes a program is designed to achieve. Therefore, they must be developed for each program objective. There are two types of performance indicators: output and outcome.

Training Materials

• Comparing Evaluation to Performance Measurement
  

• Performance Measurement Sports Analogy