ABSTRACT
Low quality evaluative information is commonly cited as one cause of failure. Empirical assessments of the quality of performance measurement systems lend support to these claims. An empirical study of the quality of effectiveness evaluation audits in six countries demonstrates that some state auditors have not met the challenge of providing non-politicized, professional and objective reports. Setting guidelines and standards are traditional ways used to enhance quality. Internal data quality control practices may be used by organizations for all three types of information. While good quality evaluative information may be a widely accepted goal, the path of developing approaches to assuring is strewn with formidable political, organizational, and technical obstacles. The political, organizational, and technical obstacles to successful assessment may lead to situations in which assessment systems provide illusions of quality assurance, but do little to improve actual practice of evaluation, performance measurement, and performance audit. The chapter also presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in this book.
