The Royal Statistical Society - Performance Monitoring

Performance Monitoring

A striking feature of UK public services over the past 10 years has been the rise of performance monitoring. Performance data can be used in establishing 'what works' among policy initiatives; to identify well-performing or under-performing institutions and public servants; and, equally important, to hold Ministers to account for their stewardship of the public services.Hence, government is both monitoring the public services, and being monitored, by performance indicators. Because of government's dual role, performance monitoring must be done with integrity and shielded from undue political influence, in the way that National Statistics are shielded.

Despite some good examples - such as enhanced size of British Crime Survey, Europe's

informative BSE testing of cattle, and Scotland's reporting of confidence intervals -

scientific standards, in particular statistical standards, have been largely ignored.

This criticism applies not just in target setting, but also in the design, analysis and

reporting of performance indicators.

On 23rd October 2003 the RSS issued a public statement regarding its views on Performance Indicators. The statement accompanied the release of the final report of the RSS Working Party on Performance Monitoring of Public Services, led by Professor Sheila Bird (Fellow of the RSS and Chief Statistician of the MRC Biostatistics Unit).

Publications

The final report of the Working Party was accompanied by a press release. Both can be downloaded at:

Since the launch of the report 'Performance Indicators: Good, Bad and Ugly' the working party has been working hard to discuss and respond practically to issues surrounding performance monitoring.

In January the RSS held a workshop to work through 'live' performance indicators and test out the performance monitoring template championed by the working party.

Performance Indicators workshop notes (PDF), Jan. 2004

In March, the RSS working party met with POST (Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology) to present the findings and recommendations of the report for those within government

Powerpoint presentation of the Performance Monitoring POST meeting

Contact

For further information about the RSS and performance monitoring, please contact the Society's External Relations office.

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Username Password GO Forgotten your password or not yet registered? My RSS About the RSS News, Media and Policy Education and Qualifications Careers Membership Specialist, Local and User Groups Publications and Reports Meetings and Events Jobs Venue Hire Directory of Statistical Consultants	Performance Monitoring Performance Monitoring A striking feature of UK public services over the past 10 years has been the rise of performance monitoring. Performance data can be used in establishing 'what works' among policy initiatives; to identify well-performing or under-performing institutions and public servants; and, equally important, to hold Ministers to account for their stewardship of the public services.Hence, government is both monitoring the public services, and being monitored, by performance indicators. Because of government's dual role, performance monitoring must be done with integrity and shielded from undue political influence, in the way that National Statistics are shielded. Despite some good examples - such as enhanced size of British Crime Survey, Europe's informative BSE testing of cattle, and Scotland's reporting of confidence intervals - scientific standards, in particular statistical standards, have been largely ignored. This criticism applies not just in target setting, but also in the design, analysis and reporting of performance indicators. On 23rd October 2003 the RSS issued a public statement regarding its views on Performance Indicators. The statement accompanied the release of the final report of the RSS Working Party on Performance Monitoring of Public Services, led by Professor Sheila Bird (Fellow of the RSS and Chief Statistician of the MRC Biostatistics Unit). Publications The final report of the Working Party was accompanied by a press release. Both can be downloaded at: Performance Indicators: Good, Bad and Ugly (PDF) Performance Indicators press release (PDF), Oct. 2003 Press release on Scottish Information Commissioner's decision, March 2006 Since the launch of the report 'Performance Indicators: Good, Bad and Ugly' the working party has been working hard to discuss and respond practically to issues surrounding performance monitoring. In January the RSS held a workshop to work through 'live' performance indicators and test out the performance monitoring template championed by the working party. Performance Indicators workshop notes (PDF), Jan. 2004 In March, the RSS working party met with POST (Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology) to present the findings and recommendations of the report for those within government Powerpoint presentation of the Performance Monitoring POST meeting Contact For further information about the RSS and performance monitoring, please contact the Society's External Relations office.	Performance Monitoring About Performance Monitoring Publications Contact
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