Performance Management in the Public Sector

This fully revised third edition provides a comprehensive exploration of performance management in the public sector, incorporating nearly 200 new references from the latest decade of performance management research. The book presents fresh evidence on the uses and effects of performance management, making it an essential resource for students, researchers, and professionals seeking to design functional performance management systems.

Moving beyond the traditional New Public Management paradigm, the book critically examines how performance measurement, incorporation, and use can be purposefully designed to enhance public management and governance. With a strong didactical focus, it offers guidance on designing performance management systems that align with contemporary challenges and policy needs.

Readers will benefit from a structured approach that combines theoretical insights with practical applications and cases. Whether in academia, government, or consultancy, this book equips readers with the knowledge and tools to measure and manage performance effectively.

Wouter Van Dooren is a Professor of Public Administration at the University of Antwerp and the Antwerp Management School, Belgium.

Geert Bouckaert is Emeritus Professor at the KU Leuven Public Governance Institute, Belgium. He was President of the International Institute of Administrative Sciences (IIAS) (2013–19) and of the European Group for Public Administration (EGPA) (2004–10).

John Halligan is Emeritus Professor of Public Administration and Governance, Centre for Environmental Governance, University of Canberra, Australia.