PIF System Level Findings: Better capability enables better results

01/06/2020

According to all PIF reviews, the second quirk in the public management system is that stronger ratings in results are positively associated with stronger ratings in capability.

Interestingly, there is some variability amongst agencies, with some agencies more strongly rated on results than their capability rating would imply and others not producing the results for that their capability ratings suggest they have.

While more impressionistic, this quirk tells us that agencies with better capability are more likely to deliver the outcomes a Government seeks.

With that in mind, perhaps officials ought to pay as much attention to the quality and mix of inputs and the cost of outputs as Ministerial priorities.

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