Centre for Research on Evaluation, Science and Technology (CREST)

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Browsing Centre for Research on Evaluation, Science and Technology (CREST) by browse.metadata.advisor "Wildschut, Lauren"

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    Performance measurement of policy priorities: tracking government performance
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2021-03) Mouton, Charline; Wildschut, Lauren; Mouton, Johann; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Centre for Research on Evaluation, Science and Technology (CREST)
    ENGLISH ABSTRACT: There is universal consensus that governments need to execute their functions well so that the needs of citizens are met. Performance measurement enables governments to determine whether their efforts are effective.This thesis presents a focus on one approach to improving performance through rigorous attention to the delivery of public services –referred to as Deliverology by its originator, Sir Michael Barber. As head of the Prime Minister Delivery Unit (PMDU) in the Tony Blair Government in the United Kingdom(UK), Barber developed an approach that targets the implementation shortfalls in government. This thesis employs a case study approach to provide a practical example of how Deliverology was applied in the Western Cape Government (WCG) to implement and measure the performance of six strategic programmes, called Game Changers. The WC Gunder the auspices of Premier Helen Zille, established the Western Cape Delivery Support Unit (DSU) in 2015 to drive the delivery of the Game Changer programmes. In executing the Deliverology approach, some of the perceived limitations in the performance measurement related elements of the approach were addressed through the inclusion of methods and features borrowed from main stream program evaluation (specifically theory-based approaches). The overarching aim of the study is to demonstrate that a modified Deliverology approach is an effective analytical framework to assess the performance of complex social interventions as represented by the eLearning Game Changer. This study is divided into two Parts. Part 1 provides the historical roots of Deliverology, with a focus on the direct precursors as found within the performance measurement and policy implementation traditions. I utilise the three public sector regimes of the 20thcentury -Public Administration (PA), the New Public Management (NPM) and the New Public Governance (NPG) as a framework to show the theoretical and methodological advancements over time. Deliverology has roots in both the NPG and NPM and is put forward as a recent approach to solving government’s implementation challenges Part 2 covers the eLearning Game Changer case study, where I discuss how I have added to the Deliverology approach, drawing on the performance measurement and programme evaluation traditions. Deliverology’s five-step process was utilised as the analytical framework for discussing the modified approach. The gains from using an expanded approach were found to be three-fold: the explicit use of a theory-based approach elucidated the causal pathways; an additional sub step on indicator formulation contributed to greater clarity in conceptualisation and operationalisation of indicators; and finally, the introduction of a clear distinction between short and medium term outcomes mitigated the risk for an unbalanced focus on outputs only. The distinction between short and medium term outcomes also assisted in setting realistic expectations as to what could be achieved within a relatively short period of time. The study suggests that the modified approach is suitable for more complex interventions but requires the necessary technical capabilities and human resources to be put in place. In conclusion, this case study demonstrates the value of a highly structured approach to performance measurement (as exemplified in the elements and routines and strategies of a modified Deliverology framework) when augmented with lessons learnt around theory-based monitoring and evaluation. Given the many policy reform and service delivery challenges in South Africa –basic health care, food security, education, inequality and many others –many of our social programmes are in fact complex interventions. This case study has argued for a very structured approach to tracking the performance and monitoring the outcomes of such complex programmes.