Focus on what matters most first
Durable approaches to performance measurement focus on major purchase decisions, issues and performance questions that your agency, sector and/or stakeholders face on a regular basis. It takes time to develop a fully functional measurement approach, test it, and integrate it into an agency's strategic, planning and business processes. A step-by-step approach will allow you to focus on ministerial and operational priorities now, while working in the long run towards a system that provides information on all key aspects of performance.
In the near future, your measurement framework must meet the needs of Parliament, Ministers, managers and other stakeholders.
Communicate and manage expectations
Early in the performance measurement process, a key step is to clearly set out what can reasonably be expected from the process. It is unrealistic to expect that every aspect of your agency's activities will be measured. Once your agency has a tangible work plan, it is imperative that senior managers, Ministers and stakeholders understand what will and will not be delivered in different timeframes. You also need their confirmation that measurement effort is focused on their priority areas.
Build data
Data availability constrains measurement. In the short term, develop measurement frameworks that are 'fit for purpose', using existing data to good effect. In the medium term, gather new data to fill critical information gaps, where it is cost-effective to do so.
