Constitutive Effects of Performance Indicators: Getting Beyond Unintended Consequences

TY - JOUR

T1 - Constitutive Effects of Performance Indicators

T2 - Getting Beyond Unintended Consequences

AU - Dahler-Larsen, Peter

PY - 2014

Y1 - 2014

N2 - The idea that performance indicators in public management have unintended consequences is almost as old as performance measurement itself. But, is ‘unintended consequences’ an appropriate and insightful idea? The very term rests on an identification of intentions and assumptions about validity that are demonstrably problematic. Based on a distinction between trivial and advanced measure fixation, an argument is made for constitutive effects that are based on less problematic assumptions. Through this conceptual move, the political dimension of performance indicators is appreciated. The conceptual dimensions of constitutive effects are carved out, empirical illustrations of their applicability are offered and implications discussed.

AB - The idea that performance indicators in public management have unintended consequences is almost as old as performance measurement itself. But, is ‘unintended consequences’ an appropriate and insightful idea? The very term rests on an identification of intentions and assumptions about validity that are demonstrably problematic. Based on a distinction between trivial and advanced measure fixation, an argument is made for constitutive effects that are based on less problematic assumptions. Through this conceptual move, the political dimension of performance indicators is appreciated. The conceptual dimensions of constitutive effects are carved out, empirical illustrations of their applicability are offered and implications discussed.

U2 - 10.1080/14719037.2013.770058

DO - 10.1080/14719037.2013.770058

M3 - Journal article

SN - 1471-9037

VL - 16

SP - 969

EP - 986

JO - Public Management Review (Print)

JF - Public Management Review (Print)

IS - 7

ER -