Analysing the development of performance measures in US federal agencies: has the GPRA Modernization Act worked?

The Government Performance and Results Modernization Act (GPRAMA) of 2010 established new requirements to encourage performance measure development in US government agencies. This study empirically tests if the implementation of the requirements resulted in the development of performance indicators on customer service, efficiency, output, quality and outcome. By examining this neglected research area, this study finds that the familiarity of government employees with the requirements had little impact on the development of measures. This implies that the GPRAMA has been reduced to a means to maintain ceremonial legitimacy. The research also finds that managerial factors are positive predictors of the development of performance measures.