Deck 7: The Constant Quest: Efficient and Effective Governance

Question 1

Some analysts refer to measurements of efficiency and effectives as

A) performance indicators
B) productivity markers
C) policy indicators
D) benchmarks

Answer 1

A

Question 2

________________________ refers to an agency improving the efficiency and effectiveness of its service delivery.

A) Inputs
B) Outputs
C) Productivity
D) Procedures

Answer 2

C

Question 3

Program evaluation differs from performance measurements on two dimensions:

A) definition and application
B) validity and reliability
C) significance and timeliness
D) focus and use

Answer 3

D

Question 4

Federal interest in productivity and program evaluation began under which of the following administrations?

A) Thomas Jefferson
B) Abraham Lincoln
C) Franklin Delano Roosevelt
D) Ronald Reagan

Question 5

The individuals who are charged with exposing waste, fraud, and abuse in public agencies are

A) Attorneys General
B) Inspectors General
C) District Attorneys
D) Independent Counsels

Question 6

Used least by the federal, state, and local governments, ______________ assess the monetary expense per unit of output.

A) workload measures
B) service quality measures
C) efficiency measures
D) citizen satisfaction measures

Question 7

Which of the following types of evaluation assesses the extent to which a program is operating as intended?

A) implementation evaluation
B) impact evaluation
C) front-end analysis
D) evaluability assessment

Question 8

The National Performance Review was proposed by which of the following presidents?

A) Jimmy Carter
B) Ronald Reagan
C) George W. Bush
D) Bill Clinton

Question 9

Evaluation research, like basic research, is concerned with theory and experimental design but its chief purpose is to evaluate

A) social interaction
B) legislative action
C) a particular agency activity
D) confidentiality

Question 10

The strong bond that exists between administrative agencies, legislative oversight committees, and special interest groups is known as the

A) iron triangle
B) bronze star
C) golden parachute
D) steel pentagon

Question 11

Almost 99% of Americans believe that government is wasteful.

Question 12

In program evaluation, measures that can be acted upon are more important than plans.

Question 13

The National Partnership for Reinventing Government was renamed the National Performance Review in 2001.

Question 14

Service quality measures are the most basic type of performance measurement.

Question 15

An important step in public program evaluation is defining the problem.

Question 16

The new public management places a greater emphasis on performance measurement, privatization, and innovation. What are the five fundamental ideas underlying the new public management?

Question 17

How would you describe the reinventing government movement? What are the major debates surrounding this movement?

Question 18

What are the eight purposes of performance measures? Describe how performance measurement is useful to public agencies.

Question 19

There are five generally recognized kinds of performance measures. What are these measures? What are the problems associated with trying to measure performance?

Question 20

What are the principle differences between performance measurement and benchmarking?

Question 21

What are the three steps involved in public program evaluation?

Question 22

What are some of the major concerns or problems associated with conducting evaluation research?

Question 23

There are four primary reasons that government agencies cannot achieve a comparable level of productivity with the private sector. What are these four reasons? How has the evolution of e-gov helped with close the gap?