Using Goals to Improve Performance and Accountability
A goal is a simple but powerful way to motivate people and communicate priorities. Leaders in states, local governments, Federal programs, and in other countries have demonstrated the power of using specific, challenging goals (combined with frequent measurement, analysis, and follow-up) to improve performance and cut costs. These stretch goals can be effective at changing the way an organization does business. This Administration has embraced the power of goal-setting as a way to improve the Federal Government's performance and accountability to the American people. Federal agencies are using near-term and longer-term goals in a variety of ways to improve their effectiveness and efficiency.
The Federal Government operates more effectively when agency leaders, at all levels of the organization, starting at the top, set clear measurable goals aligned to achieving better outcomes. It is also vital that they regularly engage their organizations and delivery partners in critical reviews of progress on these goals. This leads to the discovery of what works and what does not. Federal agency leaders are increasingly using goals and measurement to reinforce priorities, motivate action, and illuminate paths to improvement. Agencies are also using goals in partnership efforts to improve outcomes.
Agencies establish a variety of performance goals and objectives to drive progress toward key outcomes. Agencies outline long-term goals and objectives in their strategic plans, and annual performance goals in annual performance plans. Twenty-four major Federal agencies have also identified a limited number of two-year Agency Priority Goals in the FY2015 budget, aligned with their strategic goals and objectives. Agency Priority Goals target areas where agency leaders want to achieve near-term performance acceleration through focused senior leadership attention. The Administration has also adopted a limited number of Cross-Agency Priority Goals to improve cross-agency coordination and best practice sharing.