Towards a standard conceptual typology of public sector performance measurement

This article aims to enhance fundamental conceptualisation in performance measurement through the development of a standard conceptual typology of the field. Performance measurement is a common phenomenon in the worldwide public sector, and one that has attracted substantial academic attention. However, analysis has been hindered by confusing and inconsistent terminology, and a lack of clear and explicit classification schemes. The proposed typology is based on five explicit design considerations and three fundamenta divisionis. The typology produced has four elements: levels; measures; targets; and actuals. These elements relate to the nature, specific aspect and state of performance phenomena. It is likely that a standard conceptual approach will have benefits for academic analysis, by clarifying language and conceptual definitions. It is also likely to have beneficial practical implications.     

西方政府绩效评估:理论、实践及启示

政府绩效改革是西方国家在新公共管理思潮影响下风靡起来的一项管理改革举措,旨在提高政府机构的效率和公信力。作为“重塑政府”活动的重要内容,政府绩效评估在英美等国都得到了很大发展。本文主要介绍了政府绩效评估在英国、美国、澳大利亚、韩国的实施过程,从而为我国政府绩效改革提供有价值的借鉴,以期全面提高我国政府的执行力。     

Poverty assessment as a multidimensional socio-economic concept: the case of the Rawalpindi region in Pakistan

The definition on poverty has progressed into a multidimensional concept focusing more on socio-economic dimensions than being a mere measure of financial deprivation. Corresponding to this advancement, this study investigated the incidence of multidimensional poverty (MDP) in the Rawalpindi region of Pakistan, taking into account three dimensions, i.e. education, health and housing. Findings revealed an inconsistent declining trend of MDP over time. This inconsistency was mainly attributed to observed fluctuations in deprivation levels of education, health and housing in the region. Over time, education deprivation showed a significant net increase. Notably, the magnitude of MDP in rural areas was higher than in urban areas.     

Won't You Be My Neighbor? Norms of Cooperation,Public Broadcasting,and the Collective Action Problem*

Objectives. The logic of collective action suggests that public broadcasting stations should not receive the empirically observed level of member support they do. Why do people contribute to public television when they can view it without contributing? Methods. The hypothesis tested is that “norms of cooperation” govern the behavior of individuals in collective action situations. This article tests the hypothesis with an original survey of public television viewers in three large communities. Results. The survey data provide support for the “norms of cooperation” hypothesis. The higher the level of characteristics of an individual that measure cooperation, the more likely the individual is to give to public broadcasting, all other factors being equal. Conclusions. Norms of cooperation—an important part of social capital—help overcome the logic of collective action where it concerns public television contributions.     

The coefficient of aggregate impact: A method of accounting for aggregate change

The coefficient of aggregate change, introduced here, measures aggregate change, as opposed to change in individual cases. For example, in a public opinion survey it could measure an increase or decrease in support for the president. The article compares this method to regression.     

A Nation of Immigrants: Living Our Legacy

Immigration is a social issue of global importance. Understanding immigration patterns and trends requires paying attention to historical trends, demographic patterns, public policy developments, and cultural attitudes and beliefs. In this article I call for an intensified social psychological analysis of immigration, using Pettigrew's (1997) three-level framework as a means to define the approach. Selected research examples build the case for the critical role that social psychology can play in understanding the individual, group, and intergroup dynamics of immigration.     

Evaluation of the psychometric properties of two scales of work–family conflict among Ghanaian employees

This study examines the psychometric properties of Carlson, Kacmar, and Williams’ (2000) multidimensional scale of work–family conflict and Matthews, Kath, and Barnes-Farrell’s (2010) abbreviated version of the instrument in Ghana. Five hundred and forty-one (541) employees selected from different organizations responded to structured questionnaires administered in English. Results from confirmatory factor analysis supported the six-dimensional factor structure of Carlson et al.’s (2000) measure. The instrument was found to have good internal consistency, adequate convergent validity and discriminant validity, as well as invariance of factor structure across gender. The results also supported the two-dimensional factor structure of Matthews et al.’s (2010) abbreviated version of the work–family conflict scale. The dimensions of work–family conflict on the abbreviated measure correlated strongly with respective dimensions of the original multidimensional version. Latent mean comparisons suggested that men reported more work–family conflict than women on both measures. The study demonstrates the applicability of both the six-dimensional work–family conflict scale and the abbreviated work–family conflict measure for research in Ghana.     

An empirical analysis of monetary and multidimensional poverty: evidence from a household survey in Pakistan

ABSTRACT

The present study computes multidimensional poverty and compares it with unidimensional estimates of poverty for the district of Mandi Bahuddin in the Punjab province of Pakistan for the years 2010 and 2014. By employing the Foster, Greer and Thorbecke (FGT) and Alkire-Foster Methods, the incidence, severity and depth of unidimensional and multidimensionality poverty was estimated. We found an increase in absolute and relative poverty levels in 2014 as compared to 2010. The multidimensional poverty in terms of household assets has also increased over time. However, the relative proportion of educational and health poverty towards MPI remains higher, thereby calling for a holistic approach to identify multidimensional poverty in the social sector. A comprehensive policy dossier needs to be framed for designing effective poverty alleviation and social welfare programmes in the Punjab, Pakistan.     

Actors in Processes of Inclusion and Exclusion: Towards a Dynamic Approach

The terminological substitution of the poor/rich distinction by the exclusion/inclusion distinction marks an important innovation within social research, because it provides a multidimensional approach for the analysis of disadvantaged groups within society. The multidimensionality also implies that interactions between different dimensions of exclusion and inclusion become visible, hence offering a dynamic approach. Thus, research on exclusion/inclusion might be linked with longitudinal-data analyses. The dynamic aspect of the exclusion/inclusion research analytically upvalues the people involved in the processes of exclusion and inclusion. Social sciences no longer see them as nothing but victims, rather as actors coping with given circumstances. Thus, actors' own strategies become of crucial importance. As a consequence the notions of exclusion as 'bad' and inclusion as 'good' become unclear. Thus one has to take into account that actors perceive both inclusion and exclusion as 'good' or 'bad'.     

Capturing gendered aspects of active aging in China: Insights drawn from the Active Aging Index in comparison with EU countries

This paper extends the Active Aging Index (AAI) to China to measure active aging among men and women over the age of 55. The strength of the AAI approach lies in its selection of a dashboard of multidimensional indicators of active aging, which are then aggregated into composite measures. The analysis used here considers the differences between men and women on 22 AAI indicators and their aggregations. China scores high on the first domain of the AAI (employment), is comparable with the EU countries on the second (participation in society), and scores lower on the third and fourth domains (independent and health living, and capacity and enabling environment). China has one of the largest gender gaps in active aging, especially in employment, but also in the domain of “Independent Living.” The comparison with EU countries points to a number of policy priorities and learnings, including the removal of disincentives to women working longer, namely differential mandatory and occupational retirement ages, and the introduction of measures to make workplaces more age and gender friendly.     

The impact of information and computer based training on negotiators' performance

This paper presents the results of an experiment on negotiation, designed to measure the impact of (1) computerized training and (2) information on negotiators' performanceThe paper is structured as follows. First, we review the literature on negotiation training. Second, we develop a conceptual framework to link various forms of Negotiation Support Systems to joint and individual negotiation performance. Third, we present the negotiation paradigm — a bilateral monopoly — and the computerized training system we used. Regarding training, our results show an asymmetric impact on individual performance levels and, unexpectedly, a negative impact on negotiators' joint performance. In contrast, more information improves both individual and joint performance. Finally, we discuss these results, and outline further research questions.     

Telecommunications infrastructure in Australia

This paper considers Australia’s approach to telecommunications infrastructure from the perspectives of the policy official and the public administration scholar. From the official’s perspective, the approach has been successful in stimulating private sector investment in many markets. This has been achieved by promoting open competition and where necessary establishing a government business enterprise as a transitional measure to build and operate a next-generation National Broadband Network (NBN) to provide high-speed fixed-line broadband to all Australian premises by 2020. From the academic perspective, however, the approach reveals the shifting balances between political objectives and market challenges. This paper consists of three main parts. The first is an introduction by a former senior public servant turned public administration scholar. The second is from a policy official and provides an overview of the Australian telecommunications market, starting with some historical context, the deregulation in the 1990s and the privatisation of the former government-owned telecommunications incumbent, Telstra. The third is from a public administration scholar and provides a short complementary critique of Australia’s communications policy. The paper discusses, from different perspectives, the policy settings that have been adopted to support infrastructure competition and investment in the Australian telecommunications market, including the development of the NBN.     

社会表演理论：在仪式和策略之间建立文化语用学模型（下）

一直以来，对文化的社会研究不是被极端化为结构主义理论就是被极端化为实用主义理论，前者视意义为文本并注重探索提供相对自主性的模式，后者则将意义处理为由个人或集体行动之权变性的创发--即所谓的实践本身，并将文化模式作为权力和物质利益之反应加以分析。在本文中，我将阐述一个超越这种极化视野的文化语用学理论，以新的方式将意义结构、权变性、权力和物质性融为一体。我的论点是，实践的物质性可以由维度更多的表演概念所取代。通过对表演研究这一新领域的成果的吸收，文化语用学说明社会表演，无论个人还是集体的，是如何可能被系统地类推为剧场表演的。在定义了社会表演的要素之后，我认为，随着社会变得更加复杂，这些要素已经趋于“分解”（de fused）。只有在能够将这些日渐离析的要素“再融合”的情况下，表演才会成功。在融合化的表演中，观众认同演员，且文化剧本通过有效的舞台布景达到逼真的程度。而当诸要素重新连接的过程并不完美时,表演就会失败：表演要素仍处于分离状态，社会行动看上去不但不够本真（authentic），而且显得造作和难以令人信服。与此相对，再融合能使演员成功地传达其行动的意义并有效地实现他们的利益。     

社会表演理论——在仪式和策略之间建立文化语用学模型（上）

一直以来，对文化的社会研究不是被极端化为结构主义理论就是被极端化为实用主义理论，前者视意义为文本并注重探索提供相对自主性的模式，后者则将意义处理为由个人或集体行动之权变性的创发--即所谓的实践本身，并将文化模式作为权力和物质利益之反应加以分析。在本文中，我将阐述一个超越这种极化视野的文化语用学理论，以新的方式将意义结构、权变性、权力和实质性融为一体。我的论点是，实践的实质性可以由维度更多的表演概念所取代。通过对表演研究这一新领域的成果的吸收，文化语用学说明社会表演，无论个人还是集体的，是如何可能被系统地类推为剧场表演的。在定义了社会表演的要素之后，我认为，随着社会变得更加复杂，这些要素已经趋于“分解”（de fused）。只有在能够将这些日渐离析的要素“再融合”的情况下，表演才会成功。在融合化的表演中，观众认同演员，且文化剧本通过有效的舞台布景达到逼真的程度。而当诸要素重新连接的过程并不完美时,表演就会失败：表演要素仍处于分离状态，社会行动看上去不但不够本真（authentic），而且显得造作和难以令人信服。与此相对，再融合能使演员成功地传达其行动的意义并有效地实现他们的利益。     

On the Threshold of a New Century

The approach of the year 2000 is generating heightened interest in the history of the twentieth century and pronouncements regarding what awaits us in the twenty-first century. The range of assessments is truly inexhaustible. Objectively—by virtue of their complexity and multidimensional character. Subjectively—by virtue of the inevitable diversity of opinions.     

Has Transport Infrastructure Promoted Regional Economic Growth？—— With an Analysis of the Spatial Spillover Effects of Transport Infrastructure

在综合考虑多维要素对中国区域经济增长的协同作用的基础上,构建交通基础设施对区域经济增长的空间溢出模型,利用1993．2009年的中国省级面板数据和空间计量经济学的研究方法,实证分析得出以下主要结论。（1）中国交通基础设施对区域经济增长的产出弹性值合计约0．05．0．07,表明其对中国区域经济增长具有重要的作用。（2）中国交通基础设施对区域经济增长的空间溢出效应非常显著,若不考虑空间溢出效应,会高估交通基础设施对区域经济增长的作用。（3）外地交通基础设施对本地经济增长表现为以正的空间溢出效应为主,但是也有空间负溢出的证据。（4）在影响区域经济增长的多维要素中,劳动力与其他公共部门资本存量对中国区域经济弹性的贡献仍然较大,新经济增长因素与新经济地理因素的作用也不容忽视。     

An Interactionist1 Model: An Answer or Just a Better Question?

Summary It has been argued that an interactionist approach illuminatesthe relationship between public issues and private troubles.However, the model has been fundamentally criticized as beingtheoretically empty. The value of the approach is examined bythe analysis of a practice example. The basic criticisms ofthe model are confirmed but nevertheless it may offer a usefulstepping-stone away from the rigidities of case-based practice     

The incredible shrinking president and the economy

This paper employs regression analysis to investigate alternative explanations of presidential approval ratings. Since perhaps the greatest determinant, actual performance, is not readily measurable, the analysis is restricted to the first and fourth month of each term, a period sufficiently short that performance might not be expected to be clearly established. Strong empirical evidence is found to support: (1) the importance of economic conditions, especially those projected for the upcoming quarter; (2) a handicap in approval ratings today of about 11 points when compared to 1948; (3) an advantage (of about 5 to 13 points) enjoyed by Republican Presidents; and (4) the existence of a honeymoon (of about 6 points) in the first month of a presidential term that dissipates by the fourth month. Perhaps most important, strong evidence is found to discount the value of one and four month approval ratings as an accurate reflection of public evaluation of a President’s abilities or performance. Instead, those ratings are almost entirely explained by factors outside the control of the individual Presidents.     

Development of Two Measures of Climate for Scientific Organizations

The aim of this article is to describe the development of two measures of ethical climate for scientific organizations. The first measure utilizes a traditional climate measurement approach and was developed in order to understand the various ethical and creative aspects of organizational climate, or academic departmental climate in university settings, in organizations where scientific and academic research is conducted. The second measure utilizes a biodata measurement approach, a set of career event scales applicable in university and research settings. Such a measure is intended to identify those experiences unique to scientific work that may influence research climate at the individual, group, and organizational levels. Specifically, these measures will be used to predict integrity in the early part of a scientist's career based on various situational influences that occur in scientific organizations.     

Is specialization desirable in committee decision making?

Committee decision making is examined in this study focusing on the role assigned to the committee members. In particular, we are concerned about the comparison between committee performance under specialization and non-specialization of the decision makers. Specialization (in the context of project or public policy selection) means that the decision of each committee member is based on a narrow area, which typically results in the acquirement and use of relatively high expertise in that area. When the committee members’ expertise is already determined, specialization only means that the decision of each committee member is based solely on his/her relatively high expertise area. This form of specialization is potentially inferior relative to non-specialization under which the decision of each committee member is based on different areas, not just his/her relatively high expertise area. Given that the expertise of the committee members is already determined but unknown, our analysis focuses on non-specializing individuals whose decision is based on a decision rule that does not require information on the decision-making skills. Under these realistic assumptions, non-specialization is shown to be preferable over specialization, depending on the aggregation rule applied by the committee. The significance of our approach is not limited to the specific results that we obtain. Rather, it should be viewed as a first step toward a deeper examination of the role of individual decision makers in enhancing the performance of collective decision making.