Both the executive branch and congressional committees 

need evaluative information to help them make decisions 

about the programs they oversee--information that tells 

them whether, and in what important ways, a program is 

working well or poorly, and why. In enacting the Governm

Performance and Results Act of 1993 (GPRA), Congress 

expressed frustration that executive branch and congressi

decisionmaking was often hampered by the lack of good 

information on the results of federal program efforts. Seek

to promote improved federal management and the increas

efficiency and effectiveness of federal programs, GPRA 

instituted a governmentwide requirement for agencies to 

set goals and report annually on program performance.

Many analytic approaches have been employed over the 

years by the agencies and others to assess the operations 

and results of federal programs, policies, activities, and 

organizations. Periodically, individual evaluation studies 

are designed to answer specific questions about how well 

a program is working, and thus such studies may take 

several forms. GPRA explicitly recognizes and encourage

complementary role for these types of program assessmen

annual performance reports are to include both performan

measurement results and program evaluation findings. Bo

performance measures and program evaluation play key 

roles in the Program Assessment Rating Tool that the Offi

of Management and Budget introduced in 2002 to examin

federal programs in the budget formulation process.

This glossary describes and explains the relationship betw

two common types of systematic program assessments: 

performance measures and program evaluations. It is base

on GAO publications and program evaluation literature 

and was first prepared in 1998. Major contributors were 

Stephanie Shipman and Joseph Wholey. Please address 

any questions to Stephanie Shipman (202) 512-4041.

Nancy R. Kingsbury, Managing Director

Applied Research and Methods

Program Performance

Assessment
Both the executive branch and congressional committees 

need evaluative information to help them make decisions 

about the programs they oversee--information that tells 

them whether, and in what important ways, a program is 

working well or poorly, and why. In enacting the Governmen

Performance and Results Act of 1993 (GPRA), Congress 

expressed frustration that executive branch and congressiona

decisionmaking was often hampered by the lack of good 

information on the results of federal program efforts. Seekin

to promote improved federal management and the increased 

efficiency and effectiveness of federal programs, GPRA 

instituted a governmentwide requirement for agencies to 

set goals and report annually on program performance.

Many analytic approaches have been employed over the 

years by the agencies and others to assess the operations 

and results of federal programs, policies, activities, and 

organizations. Periodically, individual evaluation studies 

are designed to answer specific questions about how well 

a program is working, and thus such studies may take 

several forms. GPRA explicitly recognizes and encourages a 

complementary role for these types of program assessment: 

annual performance reports are to include both performance 

measurement results and program evaluation findings. Both 

performance measures and program evaluation play key 

roles in the Program Assessment Rating Tool that the Office 

of Management and Budget introduced in 2002 to examine 

federal programs in the budget formulation process.

This glossary describes and explains the relationship betwee

two common types of systematic program assessments: 

performance measures and program evaluations. It is based 

on GAO publications and program evaluation literature 

and was first prepared in 1998. Major contributors were 

Stephanie Shipman and Joseph Wholey. Please address 

any questions to Stephanie Shipman (202) 512-4041.

Nancy R. Kingsbury, Managing Director

Applied Research and Methods

Program Performance

Assessment
Performance measurement is the 

ongoing monitoring and reporting 

program accomplishments, particu

larly progress toward preestablishe

goals. It is typically conducted by 

program or agency management.

Performance measures may addres

the type or level of program activities conducted (process), the direct 

products and services delivered by 

a program (outputs), or the results 

of those products and services 

(outcomes).

A “program” may be any activity, 

project, function, or policy that has 

an identifiable purpose or set of 

objectives.

Program evaluations are individual 

systematic studies conducted 

periodically or on an ad hoc basis 

to assess how well a program is 

working. They are often conducted 

by experts external to the program, 

either inside or outside the agency, 

as well as by program managers.

A program evaluation typically 

examines achievement of program 

objectives in the context of other 

aspects of program performance or 

in the context in which it occurs. 

Four main types can be identified, 

all of which use measures of program performance, along with othe

information, to learn the benefits o

a program or how to improve it. 

Types of Program Performance

Assessment

Performance 

Measurement

Program

Evaluation
Performance measurement i

ongoing monitoring and rep

program accomplishments, p

larly progress toward preest

goals. It is typically conduct

program or agency managem

Performance measures may 

the type or level of program 

ties conducted (process), the 

products and services delive

a program (outputs), or the r

of those products and servic

(outcomes).

A “program” may be any ac

project, function, or policy t

an identifiable purpose or se

objectives.

Program evaluations are ind

systematic studies conducted 

periodically or on an ad hoc 

to assess how well a program 

working. They are often con

by experts external to the pr

either inside or outside the a

as well as by program mana

A program evaluation typica

examines achievement of pr

objectives in the context of o

aspects of program performa

in the context in which it oc

Four main types can be iden

all of which use measures of 

gram performance, along wi

information, to learn the ben

a program or how to improv

Types of Program Performa

Assessment

Performance 

Measurement

Program

Evaluation
Performance measurement is the 

ongoing monitoring and reporting of 

program accomplishments, particularly progress toward preestablished 

goals. It is typically conducted by 

program or agency management.

Performance measures may address 

the type or level of program activities conducted (process), the direct 

products and services delivered by 

a program (outputs), or the results 

of those products and services 

(outcomes).

A “program” may be any activity, 

project, function, or policy that has 

an identifiable purpose or set of 

objectives.

Program evaluations are individual 

systematic studies conducted 

periodically or on an ad hoc basis 

to assess how well a program is 

working. They are often conducted 

by experts external to the program, 

either inside or outside the agency, 

as well as by program managers.

A program evaluation typically 

examines achievement of program 

objectives in the context of other 

aspects of program performance or 

in the context in which it occurs. 

Four main types can be identified, 

all of which use measures of program performance, along with other 

information, to learn the benefits of 

a program or how to improve it. 

Types of Program Performance

Assessment

Performance 

Measurement

Program

Evaluation