A selection of our publications providing help and advice on
this topic:
Public Audit Forum performance indicators
June 2011
In 2007, the five UK audit agencies (the Audit Commission, Audit
Scotland, the National Audit Office, the Northern Ireland Audit
Office and the Wales Audit Office) jointly launched a set of
indicators for each of five corporate service activities - estates
management, finance, human resources, ICT, and procurement. Two
further services were subsequently added - communications and
legal.
The latest (June 2011) version of the indicators and definitions
which were available on the Public Audit Forum website are
below.
Public Audit Forum performance
indicators
Option Appraisal: Making informed decisions in Government.
26 May 2011
This review of the quality and use of option appraisal in
Government is based on case examinations of over 50 impact
assessments and business cases; surveys and interviews with over
100 economists, policy and finance staff; and analysis of relevant
secondary sources. It is aimed at staff involved in option
appraisal at working level or responsible for options appraisal
within a department. There are specific findings which will be of
interest to the Treasury and Better Regulation Executive.
Option Appraisal: Making informed
decisions in Government
Performance Frameworks and Board Reporting II
13 May 2011
This paper summarises the results from an NAO review of
performance frameworks and board reporting in twelve government
departments and twelve Arm’s Length Bodies. NAO teams applied a
maturity model to assess the quality of information that went to
boards in late 2010. The review involved scrutiny of key documents,
and interviews with and a survey of board members. The purpose of
the review was to establish the strengths and weaknesses of current
arrangements to baseline practices and promote future
improvement.
Performance Frameworks and Board
Reporting II
NDPB Performance Reporting to Departments
27 May 2010
The National Audit Office has published a survey report on the
performance reporting arrangements between 41 NDPBs and their 12
sponsor departments.
Based on structured interviews with key NDPB and departmental
officials, reviews and analysis of Corporate Plans, Annual Reports,
Framework Agreements and Quarterly Performance Returns, the report
examines:
- NDPB performance frameworks;
- NDPB performance in the last three years and methods for
setting targets and benchmarking performance;
- How Departments monitor performance; and
- Relationships between NDPBs and sponsor departments.
NDPB Performance Reporting to
Departments
Performance frameworks and board reporting
31 July 2009
The National Audit Office has published a best practice study on
Performance Frameworks and Board Reporting.
Drawing on a range of literature, a survey of Government
practice, and public and private sector case studies, the report
shows how:
- a review of 45 different monthly reports and 2,300
metrics led to 3 agreed strategic objectives and 73 key
indicators.
- Government Agencies used performance frameworks to promote a
common view of success, to change performance culture, and to
measure seemingly intangible outcomes.
- private sector companies produce a 5% higher return on equity
by validating their performance model.
- to use our concise Maturity Matrix to assess your own
organisation.
Performance frameworks and board
reporting
Use of sanctions and rewards in the public
sector
September 2008
This report contributes to the debate on
incentivising public sector performance. It brings together the
evidence on the effectiveness of sanctions and rewards (we
commissioned Deloitte to conduct a review of the literature),
summarises the results of our survey on their use in central
government, and provides a practical guide on how to use them
well.
Read full article: The use of sanctions
and rewards in the public sector
Costing Perfomance: Departmental Strategic Objectives
Spring 2008
We commissioned some work with two volunteer
Departments in Spring 2008 to assess the measurability,
relevance and costability of Departmental Strategic Objectives -
with a view to informing wider guidance on integrating financial
and performance management and reporting.
Setting key targets for Executive Agencies: A Guide
November 2003
This guidance has been developed to help those
involved in the process of agreeing targets for Executive Agencies
set challenging targets that will help deliver the outcomes and the
standard of service delivery the public expect. This publication
was produced jointly by the NAO, HM Treasury and the Cabinet Office
in November 2003.
Setting Key
Targets for Executive Agencies: A Guide (PDF - 515KB)
Choosing the right FABRIC
2001
A joint publication by the NAO, HM Treasury,
Cabinet Office, Audit Commission and Office for National Statistics
summarising our common thinking on this subject, in particular the
need for a good system of performance information to be Focused,
Appropriate, Balanced, Robust, Integrated and Cost Effective.
Choosing the
right FABRIC - a framework for performance information (PDF -
1.9MB)
Good Practice in Performance Reporting in Executive Agencies
and Non-Departmental Public Bodies
2000
This report is about good practice in
performance reporting by Executive Agencies and Executive
Non-Departmental Public Bodies. Its purpose is to assist agencies
to improve further their performance reporting by setting out
guidance based on their own good practice in collecting and
reporting performance information.
Good Practice in
Performance Reporting in Executive Agencies and Non-Departmental
Public Bodies
Corporate Services Performance indicators
A set of performance indicators covering five
common corporate services:
- Estates Management
- Finance
- Human Resources
- Information and Communications Technology
(ICT)
- Procurement
All guidance is available on the publications
page of the Public Audit Forum website (published July
2009).