ABSTRACT
This chapter explores the role of theory in the evaluation of performance measurement—a central component of contemporary managerial reform measures. It describes the extent to which evaluation has contributed to the development of theory within the disciplines and the extent to which the making of performance measurement policy is informed by theoretical knowledge gained from evaluation research. Public choice studies are based on the assumption of rational utility maximization—that the choices people make are oriented to maximizing the satisfaction of their interests—although these interests are more diverse than simply direct benefits. C. Pollitt and G. Bouckaert paint a dismal picture of the state of evaluation of public sector reforms. Despite the considerable literature on theory-based evaluation, there is a sense amongst evaluation researchers that much evaluation work is not sufficiently grounded in robust theoretical frameworks. It is quite clear that public management reform policies in general and performance measurement in particular have not been evidence-based.
