Users and Uses: Towards Producing and Using Better Public Performance Reporting
This report, part of CAAF’s “Users and Uses Project” under the Public Performance Reporting (PPR) Research Program, looks at how legislators, the media and the general public use the PPRs that governments produce. It also suggests ways for governments to create more relevant public reports that resonate with users, and it encourages users to make more and better use of this material.
Proposed Guidance for Audit Committees in the Public Sector – August 2005
Although intended for Alberta audiences, the Proposed Guidance, a product of the Government of Alberta, provides advice that is relevant for any board-governed organization in the Canadian public and not-for-profit sectors. Much of its information would also be relevant for private sector audit committees.
Reporting Principles: Taking Public Performance and Reporting to a New Level
This document aims to help governments advance the quality of their formal reporting on performance, in keeping with the results-oriented and values-based approaches they are taking. Better communication, understanding and transparency of performance are crucial to the success of government efforts to improve their operations and improve public confidence in them.
At the core of this document is a set of nine, related principles. They represent common ground among the many legislators, managers and auditors we have consulted. These are stated at a level that effectively captures the “what” of reporting while leaving flexibility to tailor the “how” to reflect differences in individual circumstances. Supporting each core principle and illustrating its application, a discussion of the continuum of reporting practice follows.
Going Public: Leadership for Transparent Government
This report summarizes observations drawn from consultations with public sector leaders, who have advised and guided CCAF in the development of this publication and from CCAF Governors, and key participants at a national conference on Public Reporting, Comptrollership & Audit: People~Values~Expectations.
Our overall observation is that all the above share three fundamental perspectives about public performance reporting, and in particular, its ‘human dimensions’.
Governments and other public sector organizations are adopting results-oriented management and governance regimes. If they are to realize the full benefits that such regimes promise – greater respect and confidence by Canadians – then public performance reporting must be an integral part of those regimes.
Reporting infrastructure and technology are key underpinnings of good public performance reporting. Alone however they are not enough to support the richness and reach of reporting that is relevant and usable. It is time to look beyond the technical – and to attach importance to managing the human dimensions of reporting.
The human dimensions of public performance reporting are manageable, but courage, persistence, time, and above all leadership, are needed.
