[ABFM] Distance/online courses and books about program evaluation and budget analysis?

Mon Aug 25 20:25:07 EDT 2008

Thank you for you attention and advice Mr. Sacco! 

I completely agree that a low number of performance indicators and having output and programs full cost information are key issues in developing a good performance-based budgeting system.

In my organization (a state government of Spain), in the first steps, we have fail in these things, and the model became so complex (performance data overload) and having a lack of good cost information.

We're trying to develop a performance-based budgeting system since 2006. 

Firstly we defined 111 programs for the entire public sector (public administration and all its related entities (including public corporations/enterprises, consortiums, foundations, etc..)). 

Each program was managed for its responsible department and its related entities (who managed the program with the departments) As worth, there are 457 combinations of program-unit of management (department and entities) and also 457 annual performance plans. Nowadays we have close to 2100 performance indicators, 3-5 for each performance plan. 

I shall mention that our public sector is so big. For a total consolidated Budget of 35 Billion euros, we have all departments (15) and institutional bodies (parliament, state audit office,...) + 138 entities(!).

Obviously 2100 indicators are so much and their quality and usefulness are so limited (it's measured what is easy to measure and no what matters). Also the program structure does no fit with the functions, objectives and strategic plans of the departments.

Facing these problems, we are "considering" to do the following things next years :

1. Redefine programs : more clear, useful and specific (from 111 to 150-180)

2. Program objectives and indicators only for a consolidated performance plan (not for each management unit (department + entities)).

3. Only key performance indicators on programs : only 3-4 for each performance plan (500-800 indicators) and outcome/output oriented.

4. Develop a program output/activity structure (or chart) within each program and calculate its related full costs (align cost accounting information with budget expenses data).

5. Align Strategic Planning : Government Plan 2007-2010 --> Departmental Strategic Plans --> Program annual performance plans

6. Develop a performance tool for evaluate program performance (US PART and Chile's Program Evaluations as a benchmarks).

7. Align the performance-based budgeting with our new medium term budgeting framework (3 year, rolling).

For other information about our budget, here is our 2008 Budget slide presentation http://www15.gencat.net/ecofin_wpres08/pdf/PRE_ENG.pdf <http://www15.gencat.net/ecofin_wpres08/pdf/PRE_ENG.pdf> 

Thanks again for your advices!

Kind regards,

Jordi

-----Original Message-----

From: John Sacco [mailto:jsacco at gmu.edu] 

Sent: Friday, August 22, 2008 2:45 PM

To: gjmiller at cox.net

Subject: Re: [ABFM] Distance/online courses and books about program

evaluation and budget analysis?

Jordi, I do an online public budgeting and finance courses but you need to

be a student at my University, George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia,

USA 22030. I will offer some advise. A main weakness in performance

indicators is too many indicators and failure to use full cost. For example

the list of performance indicators for police can be long including response

time, conviction and as many as 20 indicators. Take a few that fit with the

budget goals for the year. Find historical data and do an output/input

ratio. Average time to respond, 7 minutes, for example, but what is the

cost? Now, the next hard part, at what cost will it take to reduce the

average time to 6.5 minutes? To make matters even more complex, what impact

on crime will the 6.5 minutes?

Also consider a path where you have a good idea of the techniques for

reducing crime. Washington DC, USA has moved to placing camera at various

points in the city. Then use a little game theory. How might the criminals

circumvent the cameras? If you have an idea, what is you next best move? At

this juncture, compute the cost of N camera and N+a series of more camera to

deal with the next best move of the criminals. What can the budget afford?

Take a guess at the money saved from a small reduction in crime and subtract

that from the cost savings for several number of cameras. 

-prof. Sacco

George Mason University

Fairfax, VA. 22030

USA

sorry but this is about all can offer; too much other work to do.

Original message:

My name is Jordi Baños, I'm a budget analyst from a Spanish State Government

(Catalonia State Government; its capital is the city of Barcelona), I'm a

ABFM member since 2 months ago and I want to increase my skills in program

evaluation and budget analysis. My organization is putting in work a

performance-based budgeting system, so I'm interested to know more about

program evaluation to perform a better at evaluating and analyzing

evaluating program budgets, performance, and results.

I would like to know if ABFM members could recommend to me (or knows)

distance/online courses about program evaluation and budget analysis (from

universities, training institutions, etc...)? 

Also if it's possible I would like to know if there are some recommended

books by ABFM members for budget analysts on analyzing and evaluating budget

programs?

Thank you very much for your attention and help.

Kind regards,

Jordi

Jordi Baños Rovira 

jordibanos at gencat.cat <mailto:jordibanos at gencat.cat> 

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