ASPA Center for Accountability & Performance

What Tulsa Has to Teach Others About Rebuilding Trust in Cities

Bloomberg Cities Network

Too often, local governments take a transactional view of resident engagement, with “public consultation” seen as just another hoop to jump through on the way kicking off or wrapping up a project. But Tulsa, Okla., offers city leaders everywhere a different model they can build upon—not only for deeper engagement around city priorities, but also for strengthening social cohesion and trust throughout the community – and measuring what works.

Oral History of the Government Performance & Results Act

Government Executive

As GPRA reaches its 30th anniversary, it’s a great time to look back at how it evolved. Here, in the words of the people who were involved in the process, is the story of the birth and growth of results-oriented government.

Resource of the Week:  Intro to Measurement and Indicators

J-PAL North America

This section of J-PAL’s “Research Resources” covers key measurement concepts, means of data collection, from whom data should be collected, and common sources of measurement error. 

30 Measures for Cybersecurity

Federal News Network

The first-ever federal cybersecurity strategic plan for 2024-2026, prepared by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, outlines four major goals that are accompanied by 30 key metrics of effectiveness in meeting those goals.

OMB Releases Updated Performance Guidance to Agencies

U.S. Office of Management and Budget

As new policies and management initiatives have been introduced, the Federal Performance Framework has expanded to accommodate a more integrated and coordinated government-wide management approach aimed at advancing organizational performance improvement and management efforts at agencies. This essential guidance to agencies is updated annually by the Office of Management and Budget and is now available!

Data Initiatives to Improve Public Engagement

Government Executive

Dedicated civil servants, researchers, and trusted partners are promoting responsible access and use of government data by seeking, receiving, and integrating feedback and participation from the American public throughout the data collection and use process. But they need to take a more active approach to public engagement to help drive effective evidence-informed decisions. 

Upgrading Strategic Planning with Foresight

The Futurist

Futures work – or foresight as it’s more widely known – helps us strengthen strategic planning and become aware of the unknown risks and opportunities that lay 10+ years out. In fact, studies have shown that organizations that recognize that the future might change the very foundation of their business are 33% more profitable and achieve a 200% higher growth rate than the companies that do not.

Using Metrics to Help Governments Prepare for the Future

IBM Center for The Business of Government

This report analyzes how the shock of the pandemic and subsequent flood of recovery funding affected governments’ ability to use emergency dollars for public services, and draws on this analysis to develop recommendations for how states can use future recovery funds to help deliver key services during critical times of need.

Resource of the Week:  Evidence-Based Policy Newsletter

In September 2022, evidence advocate Jon Baron launched a newsletter for policymakers, researchers, and others who wish to keep abreast of rigorous evidence on “what works” in social policy. The newsletter shares his quick take on the latest findings — without spin, just the facts. 

OPM Announces New Job Series

U.S. Office of Personnel Management

The 2016 Program Management Improvement Accountability Act required OPM to develop a new job series for program and project management, and to identify the key skills and competencies needed for program and project managers in federal agencies. Seven years later, OPM has now issued such guidance to agencies.

Australian Government Creates a Centre for Evaluation to Measure What Works

Australian Treasury

Building a better feedback loop within government is in the interests of all Australians, and shows our commitment to real outcomes, evidence-based policy, and a culture of continuous improvement. The government is budgeting $10 million over 4 years to implement this initiative, with a staff of 14. Here’s a more in depth story of how the Centre will work.

Strengthening Randomized Evaluations with Qualitative Research, Part 1

JPAL-North America

Randomized evaluations allow researchers to measure the impact of programs and policies on a range of outcomes. But what mechanisms are driving the effects of these programs and policies? In recent years, many researchers within the traditionally quantitative field of economics have also incorporated qualitative methods into their studies and built teams with qualitative expertise to strengthen their research.

Resource of the Week:  30^th Anniversary of GPRA

C-SPAN (11 minutes)

The Government Performance and Results Act was signed August 4, 1993. Here’s a short video of the White House bill signing ceremony.

Using Data to Improve Customer Service

Federal News Network

Interview with the director of data and evaluation at the Health Resources and Services Administration (a part of the Department of Health and Human Services). Alek Sripipatana oversees the entire “life cycle” of data for 30 million service recipients of federal health services.

Pandemic Spending Exposes Weaknesses in How Data Is Handled

RouteFifty

Keeping track of how pandemic relief money was spent by localities is extremely difficult due in part to the problems that state and local agencies have in collecting and analyzing data, as well as the technological limitations associated with their databases.

Resource of the Week:  Key Performance Indicators Infographic

Key Performance Institute (via LinkedIn)

Here’s an infographic that puts an entire semester’s worth of info on a single page! It will take hours to digest, though, since there’s so much rich content to absorb.

Data Science Driving Major Changes to the Bureau of the Fiscal Service’s Operating Model

Federal News Network

The U.S. Treasury’s Fiscal Service wants its employees to have data skills. It launched a pilot, called 30-days of data science, in 2021 that has now evolved into the Fiscal Data University. It’s about nine months into the first cohort of 40 employees going through the training.

Cities Explore Transparent Budget Process

RouteFifty

The city of Denton, TX, is just one example among several local governments that are looking to have a more transparent budget process that combines short-term budgetary thinking with long-term strategic planning. 

How to Do Strategic Planning Like a Futurist

Harvard Business Review

Chief strategy officers and those responsible for shaping the direction of their organizations are often asked to facilitate “visioning” meetings. This helps teams brainstorm ideas, but it isn’t a substitute for critical thinking about the future. 

Role of Artificial Intelligence in Program Evaluation

American Evaluation Association (blog post)

The author, Silva Ferretti, has been playing with ChatGPTI for some time now. She is surprised by the lack of debate regarding AI’s role in development and humanitarian program management. It is a game changer. “We as a field should be looking into it NOW.”

Resource of the Week:  Centre for Public Impact

Great infographic summing up how this global nonprofit foundation is helping government, philanthropy, and civil society organizations reimagine government so it works for everyone. It incorporates learning journeys, learning partnerships, and action research.