| Performance measurement is variously advocated as a management technique for organizations, especially public agencies, to improve organizational performance in the dimensions of effectiveness, efficiency, accountability, budgetary success, and citizen satisfaction. Evidence of the effect of performance measurement is limited and largely anecdotal, however.; This study analyzes the use of performance measurement by primary state law enforcement agencies (state police and highway patrols) and examines the extent of use, characteristics of agencies, characteristics of performance measurement systems, and agencies' assessment of the influence of performance measurement on the organizational dimensions of interest.; Based on a cross-sectional survey of the chief administrators of the 49 primary state law enforcement agencies of whom 46 (94%) responded to the survey, findings indicated that over three-quarters of these agencies use performance measurement, and that there are certain differences between the agencies that use performance measurement and the agencies that do not. The characteristics of performance measurement systems vary among agencies. For the most part, agencies perceive the use of performance measurement to have the greatest effect on organizational accountability and effectiveness, although the influence of performance measurement on these dimensions is modest. Performance measurement is perceived to have a lesser effect on organizational efficiency, budgetary success, and citizen satisfaction.; Several hypotheses of relationships between certain organizational and measurement variables and the dimensions of organizational effectiveness, efficiency, accountability, budgetary success, and citizen satisfaction were tested. In addition, logistic regression analysis of five models was performed to determine combined effects of certain independent variables on agencies' assessment of the usefulness of performance measurement.; Overall, the study found only slight evidence of the claimed benefits of performance measurement. A possible explanation for the discrepancy between the findings of the study and the popularity of performance measurement, based on the “institutionalized organization” model proposed by Meyer and Rowan and others, is discussed. |
