Is asking the city for performance metrics unreasonable?

When we require all industries to improve performance then why is it important to require local governments to implement performance metrics at the local level? Why not make our local community the best we can be? How has science, technology, engineering, and mathematics changed the world?

Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics are core tools for success

As I started my professional career in 1979, I learned that performance metrics was a critical tool for any business. Without performance metrics researchers, managers, healthcare providers, retailers, restauranters in fact, any industry wouldn’t move forward, learn, grow, nurture the industry and could make the wrong decisions. Long before we had computers in our home, lengthy in person research, long hand recording, research, operating plans, budgets, procurement was the standard method. Can you image our world without performance metrics?

Technology changed the world changing performance metrics

When Dr. Quijano put boxes of computers parts and a printer in my office saying we’d hire a computer programmer to write the operating plan. I knew he was really challenging me. Writing an implantable medical biotech device company’s operating plan was complex and lengthy. I thought if I can do it long hand then I can most certainly put it on a computer.

I took the computer boxes home over the weekend. No windows operating program back then, a blank screen, was a challenge. I love figuring things out and wrote the operating plan in Lotus Symphony. Monday morning I handed him the operating plan. Computers opened the doors for STEM in every household, business and organization. STEM are the core principles. Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM)

If you close the doors, you limit and control your knowledge and you lose the opportunity to be the best you can be.

Data-driven performance metrics analysis

Making decisions at the local level without performance metrics analysis is proven to be “shooting from the hip”. Without transparent data-driven performance metrics analysis enables assumptions without consideration of potential consequences and limits potential improvement and growth.

Government is the most important organization that needs to be performance based as “elected officials” come and go, are not held accountable for bad policies or errors they make.

Data-driven performance metrics analysis standards for local government cities and towns

While each and every city varies, I started my research with a quick google and came up with the National League of Cities report “Performance Management, A Guide for City Leaders” CSAR-Performance-Management-Report-2014.pdf

Performance Management, A Guide for City Leaders while written in 2014 starts by benchmark comparisons “Profiles: Performance Management Programs in 10 U.S. Cities”
The benchmark compared each city’s profile critical elements were placed into these categories:

City Profiles in the Performance Management Programs in 10 U.S. Cities report Each city has its “Mission Statement“, the year they “Launched“, the “Annual Program Budget” “Staffing” used and the “Results” Each one showed the value and success of Performance Management Programs.

Residents’ requests for more data, performance metrics and transparency

I looked a little more and came across other resident requests for more data and transparency. Local governments now have enough technology along with technology platforms to provide performance-based metrics.

Tools and programs that Identify issues, tracking data, generating reports and that succeed with a transparent, engaging performance-based management programs save money, increases efficiency and effectiveness, enables quicker change to improve performance. It involves residents and staff, that builds a better future for the community. Welcoming all to the same table.

Without performance management an immense of time is being wasted. why not take advantage of the resources available to improve.

Performance metrics programs are total quality management

City performance programs are total quality improvement programs that operate in real time in continuous improvement mode.

City performance programs work beyond the elected officials two- or four-year term continuously improving the process removing rumors and misinformation. Makes the mission the focal point, assists city council in decision making. It is the guiding tool for managers and employees. Performance programs target and focus issues, areas for improvement providing direction, keeping the entire team in the lane for success, improving the community for all.

With residents’ requests for more data, performance metrics and transparency, performance programs show us how effective and productive our elected officials are. Performance programs build community and trust.

Learn about other cities performance-based management use of data to inform policy decisions, allocate funding, improve services, evaluate the effectiveness of programs, and engage residents.
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