Performance measurement and government productivity

To be able to compete in the global economy, firms must become more efficient, more flexible and, above all, more customer-oriented. The competitive edge of firms is determined not only by their own strategic choices, but also by what their respective governments do (or fail to do) in terms of providing a supportive infrastructure that helps them compete. This paper examines the changing nature of government, and in particular the changing nature of performance measurement and management as governments attempt to balance accountability for the resources they manage with flexibility in terms of the services they provide.