Sorting the Relationships Among Performance Measurement, Program Evaluation, and Performance Management

Abstract

Abstract The chapter provides a brief history of program evaluation, performance measurement, and performance management in the United States. It discusses their advantages, disadvantages, applications, and complementarities. The chapter finds that program evaluation and performance measurement have different but basically complementary purposes. Program evaluation provides in‐depth, ad hoc information on major program/policy issues. Performance‐measurement systems have provided data primarily on outcomes, but, as long as quality controls are in place, can cover many more public programs during each year—information needed by public managers. The chapter also provides suggestions for improving both performance measurement and program evaluation to make them more useful to public officials. Finally, the chapter addresses two future issues meriting attention by evaluators: (a) the need to focus more on linking monetary costs to outcomes; and (b) the need of public officials for obtaining better estimates of future outcomes and costs. © Wiley Periodicals, Inc., and the American Evaluation Association .