1. Relevance
Effective SEA reports include information capable of making a difference in a user’s assessment of performance. In doing so, the following attributes of the reported SEA performance information need to be considered:
- Do the performance measures being reported relate to the major goals and objectives of the programs and services being reported?
Relevant SEA performance information has a close logical relationship to the major goals and objectives for which performance measures are presented. In other words, the performance measures reported should clearly relate to what the governmental entity is trying to accomplish.
- Does the performance information being reported provide users with a basis for assessing the level of accomplishment of the major goals and objectives?
Relevant SEA performance information provides users with information that they can use in understanding and assessing the level of accomplishment of a governmental entity’s goals and objectives.
- Does the performance information being reported relate to the concerns that are important to users?
Relevant SEA performance information relates to the concerns of the users. Preparers of SEA reports need to consider obtaining input and feedback from actual or potential users of a SEA report on what they believe are important aspects of performance in order to enhance the relevance of the reported information.
- Does the performance information being reported have a close logical relationship to the purpose for which it is intended to be used?
Relevant SEA performance information takes into consideration that potential users of SEA reports may require different measures of performance or different presentations of those measures in order to assist them in making assessment or decisions. As a result, a governmental entity needs to identify the purpose of the SEA report and assure that the performance information being reported meets that purpose.
- Does the performance information being reported have a focus on key results so as not to overwhelm users with more information than can be used?
Relevant SEA reports focus on key measures of results that are important to users. One danger is that of overloading users with more information about performance than they can assimilate and analyze. The number of key measures included may vary depending upon the level of reporting with additional measures included at more detailed levels.
- Does the performance information being reported include relevant performance measures of all types of SEA performance measures?
Relevant SEA performance information includes measures from each of the three types: 1) those measuring service efforts (inputs); 2) Those measuring service accomplishments (outputs and outcomes); and 3) those relating service accomplishments (cost-outputs & cost-outcomes). It will be difficult to present indicators of each type of performance measure (inputs, outputs, outcomes, cost-outputs, and cost-outcomes) as well as indicators of factors that influence results and unintended consequences within a concise report. To ensure relevance, care will be needed in selecting SEA performance measures that are important to potential users and report key aspects of results. It may be necessary to provide a more comprehensive level of reporting that includes a greater number of measures.
- Does the SEA performance information include, where appropriate, a discussion of the unintended consequences of providing services?
Relevant SEA performance information identifies the known intended consequences (positive or negative) that occur, at least partially, as a result of providing a service. Although often difficult to identify and relate to a service being provided, an effort needs to be made to identify and report these unintended consequences.