The main objectives are to increase management capacities of agencies and focus on clients and service quality. Clear definition of objectives and performance targets are meant to increase the control of ministers over policy. Overall savings were an important objective of the former coalition, but the current coalition emphasizes reallocation of resources within the budget.
Performance management is based on a range of instruments.
Existing legislation usually provides sufficient flexibility for initiating reforms. Performance management is based on ad hoc initiatives and experiments, rather than comprehensive changes across the public sector. Initiatives often come from the top, but are implemented through persuasion and incentives rather than command. Bottom-up initiatives are actively supported through development of best practice guidelines and other assistance. The Ministry of Finance has overall responsibility for reforms and develops general reform initiatives.