A Guide to Data-Driven Performance Reviews

Submitted by on Mon, 09/26/2011 - 12:05
Reports
PDF icon A Guide to Data-Driven Performance Reviews.pdf
Harry Hatry
Elizabeth Davies
The GPRA (Government Performance and Results Act) Modernization Act of 2010 introduces a new requirement. Agencies must now conduct quarterly performance reviews of their most important goals.

 The law says that these reviews must:

  • Be led by the agency’s chief operating officer
  • Assess progress toward priority goals
  • Use the results to change direction if needed

This report examines federal agencies that are using data-driven performance reviews to improve agency effectiveness and efficiency. It draws from practices of agencies, including state and local governments. In their research, the authors identify three prerequisites to successful performance reviews:

  • Interested and engaged leadership
  • Timely performance measures
  • Staff that can analyze the measures before the performance review meetings

The report serves as a “how to” guide for setting up and running data-driven performance reviews. It lays out who needs to be involved, how to organize the meetings, what kinds of performance information should be collected, how to run the meetings, and how to follow up afterwards.