Strategic planning looks forward to define what should be done, while performance measurement looks backward to assess what has been done. When used in concert, strategic planning and performance measurement support a system of performance management. Citizen participation elevates the governing for results model from a system promoting greater efficiency in operations and resource allocations to a system for more responsive government. Making the connections requires sharing information. Information is the lifeblood of the governing for results system, and the capacity to manage large amounts of information is vital to its implementation.
Performance indicators provide the information.
For the governing for results system to work, the performance indicators must be credible, accessible, and timely. This report, like the governing for results system that it describes, is outcome oriented and focuses on what can and should be achieved. It is important to emphasize that we are not suggesting the creation of a new system. The report is structured as follows. Chapter 3 describes the role of strategic planning in the governing for results system.