Search results

Performance measurement

Public bodies, taxpayers and users need to be able to find out how well public money is being spent, especially when budgets have been cut and government spending needs to deliver more for less. To be able to assess the success of policies, programmes and major projects, government must build performance and value for money measures into design, and ensure that decisions are based on these measures.

A "performance framework" provides the information for those making decisions across an organisation to act coherently, address challenges and changes and explain actions taken. As a minimum, such a framework requires: an agreed set of outcomes for which the business is aiming; a realistic plan of what is needed to achieve them; data on performance against relevant measures; and a mechanism for identifying and overcoming obstacles that arise.

Key NAO publications:

Performance measurement: Good practice criteria and maturity model (Nov 2016)
Evaluation in Government (Dec 2013)
Option Appraisal: Making informed decisions in Government (May 2011)
Performance Frameworks and Board Reporting II (May 2011)
Taking the measure of government performance (July 2010)

Achieving government’s long-term environmental goals

This report examines how government has set itself up to deliver its long-term environmental goals.

Sector(s): Energy and environment

Performance Improvement area(s): Environmental sustainability, Major project delivery, People and Operational Management, Performance measurement

Department(s): Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

Published:
11 Nov 2020

Asylum accommodation and support

This report examines the government’s replacement of the COMPASS contracts for accommodation and support for asylum seekers.

Sector(s): Borders and immigration, Children and families, Welfare, Pensions and Employment

Performance Improvement area(s): Accountability in local service delivery, Contract lifecycle, Customer management, Local service delivery, Major project delivery, Oversight of service delivery, Performance measurement

Department(s): Home Office

Published:
3 Jul 2020

British Business Bank

This report examines whether the British Business Bank is improving access to finance for small and medium-sized enterprises.

Sector(s): Business and enterprise, Financial services

Performance Improvement area(s): Economic growth, Performance measurement

Department(s): Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, HM treasury

Published:
15 Jan 2020

Business support schemes

This report examines the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy’s management of its business support schemes.

Sector(s): Business and enterprise

Performance Improvement area(s): Economic growth, Performance measurement

Department(s): Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

Published:
15 Jan 2020

Choosing the right FABRIC

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.

Performance Improvement area(s): Performance measurement

Published:
20 Feb 2001

Costing Perfomance: Departmental Strategic Objectives

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.

Performance Improvement area(s): Performance measurement

Published:
1 Apr 2008

Environmental metrics: government’s approach to monitoring the state of the natural environment

Our study evaluates how far the government has an effective system for measuring progress towards its environmental objectives.

Sector(s): Energy and environment

Performance Improvement area(s): Environmental sustainability, Performance measurement

Department(s): Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

Published:
16 Jan 2019

Evaluating government spending

This report examines government’s progress in developing the provision and use of evaluation evidence across government.

Sector(s): Government, efficiency and transparency

Performance Improvement area(s): Financial and risk management, Major project delivery, Oversight of service delivery, Performance measurement

Department(s): Cabinet Office, HM treasury

Published:
2 Dec 2021

Evaluating innovation in children’s social care

This report examines the Department for Education’s evaluation of the Children’s Social Care Innovation Programme.

Sector(s): Children and families, Education and skills

Performance Improvement area(s): Accountability in local service delivery, Local service delivery, Performance measurement, Transforming public services

Department(s): Department for Education

Published:
24 Jun 2022

Evaluation in Government

Treasury expects all departments to evaluate the ex post impacts and costs of all their interventions, including spending, taxation and regulation. This activity should provide valuable information on the cost-effectiveness of government interventions, for the purposes of accountability and to learn lessons to improve current and future policies.

Sector(s): Government, efficiency and transparency

Performance Improvement area(s): Analysis, Cost reduction and affordability, Performance measurement, Strategic centre of government

Published:
20 Dec 2013