Question 1

Some analysts refer to measurements of efficiency and effectives as

Accepted Answer

Performance indicators are measurements of efficiency and effectiveness.

Question 2

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

Accepted Answer

Productivity refers to the efficiency and effectiveness of an agency or organization in delivering its services, focusing on how well it uses its resources to achieve its goals.

Question 3

Program evaluation differs from performance measurements on two dimensions:

Accepted Answer

Program evaluation and performance measurements differ primarily in their focus and use. Program evaluation is a comprehensive assessment that looks at the effectiveness, impact, and overall success of a program, often involving qualitative and quantitative methods. Performance measurements, on the other hand, involve ongoing monitoring and reporting of program outputs or outcomes, focusing more on specific indicators or metrics.

Question 4

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

Accepted Answer

Federal interest in productivity and program evaluation significantly increased during the administration of Franklin Delano Roosevelt, particularly with the New Deal programs designed to address the Great Depression. This period marked a substantial shift towards the federal government taking an active role in economic management and program evaluation.

Question 5

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

Accepted Answer

Inspectors General are specifically tasked with auditing and investigating activities within federal agencies to prevent and detect waste, fraud, and abuse. They play a crucial role in ensuring accountability and transparency in government operations.

Question 6

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

Accepted Answer

Efficiency measures assess the monetary expense per unit of output, focusing on how resources are utilized to produce services or goods. This involves calculating the cost-effectiveness of different government programs or initiatives, which is less frequently used by governments compared to other measures like workload, service quality, or citizen satisfaction.

Question 7

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

Accepted Answer

Implementation evaluation focuses on assessing whether a program is being executed as planned, ensuring that it is operating according to its design and objectives.

Question 8

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

Accepted Answer

The National Performance Review, aimed at making the federal government more efficient and effective, was initiated by President Bill Clinton in 1993.

Question 9

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

Accepted Answer

Evaluation research primarily focuses on assessing the effectiveness, efficiency, and impact of specific programs or policies, which often involves looking at the activities of a particular agency or organization.

Question 10

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

Accepted Answer

The term "iron triangle" refers to the close, stable relationships among agencies, interest groups, and congressional committees or subcommittees. These entities work together to create policies that benefit their mutual interests, often leading to strong, enduring connections that can influence political decisions and resource allocations.

Question 11

Almost 99% of Americans believe that government is wasteful.

Accepted Answer

The question states that "Almost 99% of Americans believe that government is wasteful." This means that a large majority of Americans believe that the government is wasteful, which is true.

Question 12

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

Accepted Answer

Measures that can be acted upon provide concrete data and feedback that can be used to make adjustments and improvements, making them more immediately valuable for enhancing program effectiveness than plans, which are theoretical until implemented.

Question 13

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

Accepted Answer

The National Performance Review was renamed the National Partnership for Reinventing Government in 1998, not the other way around.

Question 14

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

Accepted Answer

Service quality measures are not the most basic type of performance measurement; they are more specific and focus on evaluating the quality of service provided to customers, which is just one aspect of overall performance measurement. Basic performance measurements often include a broader range of metrics such as financial performance, operational efficiency, and customer satisfaction.

Question 15

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

Accepted Answer

Defining the problem is a crucial first step in public program evaluation as it sets the scope, identifies the issues to be addressed, and guides the subsequent steps of the evaluation process.

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?

Accepted Answer

The answer of The new public management places a greater...

Question 17

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

Accepted Answer

The answer of How would you describe the reinventing government...

Question 18

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

Accepted Answer

The answer of What are the eight purposes of performance...

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?

Accepted Answer

The answer of There are five generally recognized kinds of...

Question 20

What are the principle differences between performance measurement and benchmarking?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What are the principle differences between performance...

Quiz 7: The Constant Quest: Efficient and Effective Governance