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Use and sensemaking of performance measurement information by local government managers
Descriptive
TypeOfResource
Text
TitleInfo
(ID = T-1)
Title
Use and sensemaking of performance measurement information by local government managers
SubTitle
the case of Quebec's municipal benchmarking system
Identifier
ETD_2681
Identifier
(type = hdl)
http://hdl.rutgers.edu/1782.2/rucore10002600001.ETD.000052833
Language
LanguageTerm
(authority = ISO639-2)
English
Genre
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theses
Subject
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(authority = RUETD)
Topic
Public Administration (SPAA)
Subject
(ID = SBJ-2);
(authority = ETD-LCSH)
Topic
Government productivity--Québec (Province)--Evaluation
Subject
(ID = SBJ-3);
(authority = ETD-LCSH)
Topic
Benchmarking (Management)--Québec (Province)
Subject
(ID = SBJ-4);
(authority = ETD-LCSH)
Topic
B cells--Differentiation
Abstract
It has long been taken for granted by researchers that performance data would lead to better informed decisions. Despite the copious literature on performance measurement in the public sector, there is surprisingly very little in the public sector performance measurement literature about what happens once the performance measurement data has been collected. The present research concentrates on (1) the use of performance information, and on (2) a specific facet of use called sensemaking. Akin to interpretation, sensemaking activities are a sub-phase contained between data collection and the taking of actions. The case of the mandatory benchmarking system covering all 1113 municipalities in the province of Quebec, Canada, is used as a background to expand our knowledge on how managers use and make sense of performance information. Using a mixed-method approach, this dissertation answers two questions. First, what are the factors accounting for the uses of performance measurement by municipal managers? Second, when presented with raw performance measurement information, how do local managers decide if their municipality's performance is satisfactory or not? The quantitative data originate from electronic surveys and official performance values for standardized indicators. The qualitative data takes the form of content analysis of comments from managers, and from focus groups of 179 participants representing 100 municipalities and municipal organizations. On the use on performance information, the findings from the qualitative data are that managers perceive that external factors hinder their use of performance indicators, and resent being measured and compared. The findings of the quantitative analyses find that attitudes of managers themselves and performance, and not external factors, account of the uses of performance indicators. On sensemaking, the findings are that managers think more in satisficing than in maximizing terms. They are optimistic in their verdicts. Managers do not think of negative and positive performance in consistent terms, but tend to present their performance in the best possible light. The implications of the findings are, in the absence of official definition of what constitutes positive and negative performance, corrective actions following performance information are unlikely.
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electronic
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xi, 285 p. : ill.
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Note
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Ph.D.
Note
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Includes bibliographical references, abstract, and vita.
Note
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by Étienne Charbonneau
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Charbonneau
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Etienne
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author
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Etienne Charbonneau
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Holzer
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Marc
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chair
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Advisory Committee
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Marc Holzer
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Riccucci
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Norma M.
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internal member
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Advisory Committee
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Norma M. Riccucci
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NamePart
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Van Ryzin
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Gregg G.
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internal member
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Advisory Committee
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Gregg G. Van Ryzin
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Yang
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(type = given)
Kaifeng
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outside member
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Advisory Committee
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Kaifeng Yang
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Rutgers University
Role
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degree grantor
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Graduate School - Newark
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school
OriginInfo
DateCreated
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2010
DateOther
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2010
Place
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xx
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TitleInfo
Title
Rutgers University Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Identifier
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ETD
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TitleInfo
Title
Graduate School - Newark Electronic Theses and Dissertations
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rucore10002600001
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NjNbRU
Identifier
(type = doi)
doi:10.7282/T3NK3F45
Genre
(authority = ExL-Esploro)
ETD doctoral
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Rights
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The author owns the copyright to this work.
Copyright
Status
Copyright protected
Availability
Status
Open
Reason
Permission or license
RightsHolder
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(type = personal)
Name
FamilyName
Charbonneau
GivenName
Etienne
Role
Copyright Holder
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Type
Permission or license
DateTime
2010-04-29 17:47:12
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Name
Etienne Charbonneau
Affiliation
Rutgers University. Graduate School - Newark
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Author Agreement License
Detail
I hereby grant to the Rutgers University Libraries and to my school the non-exclusive right to archive, reproduce and distribute my thesis or dissertation, in whole or in part, and/or my abstract, in whole or in part, in and from an electronic format, subject to the release date subsequently stipulated in this submittal form and approved by my school. I represent and stipulate that the thesis or dissertation and its abstract are my original work, that they do not infringe or violate any rights of others, and that I make these grants as the sole owner of the rights to my thesis or dissertation and its abstract. I represent that I have obtained written permissions, when necessary, from the owner(s) of each third party copyrighted matter to be included in my thesis or dissertation and will supply copies of such upon request by my school. I acknowledge that RU ETD and my school will not distribute my thesis or dissertation or its abstract if, in their reasonable judgment, they believe all such rights have not been secured. I acknowledge that I retain ownership rights to the copyright of my work. I also retain the right to use all or part of this thesis or dissertation in future works, such as articles or books.
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ETD
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application/x-tar
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2775040
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