Since the 1980s, New Public Management (NPM) has deeply influenced the public sector across the world, and thus measuring or managing performance has become a principal element of government reform. In terms of borrowing models and techniques from the private sector, performance measurement has been significantly extended into government, but differences between the two sectors have led to difficulties and criticism of this practice with a wide inconsistent variety of different theoretical explanations about it. In this context, this thesis investigates the effectiveness of performance measurement and theoretical explanations of conditions for its success in the public sector. It focuses through a comparative methodology on Comprehensive Performance Assessment and Joint Performance Assessment that have recently been introduced between the levels of government in England and Korea for the improvement of local government performance and accountability. Extensive analysis of literature and case studies have allowed the thesis to find firstly, that the introduction of such unique assessment systems, by which the centre assesses localities, was deeply affected by the environmental commonalities of both countries such as centralisation in inter-governmental relations and enthusiasm for NPM. Second, the empirical evaluation of both tools shows that they have in practice been valid for accurate assessment, and directly functional for improvement and indirectly for accountability to the public. Their high validity and functionality proved to be mainly attributable to two characteristics. One was institutionally that both frameworks were based on a balanced approach to performance and the disclosure of assessment results to the public for facilitating competition between localities. The other was that both had impacted on internal management of local government which led to change in organisational culture with more focus on performance. However, it identified a necessity for local authorities to participate in the development process of those tools to ensure legitimacy of central management of local performance since they enjoy their own electorally based political support. The research has also found the importance of assessors’ expertise for accurate assessment and a possibility that performance measurement can contribute to the resolution of political tension and cooperation between central and local government when it focuses more on outcomes than input and process. A deeper theoretical and practical understanding of these successful experiences and important policy elements in contemporary public management contributes significantly to knowledge in the three settings of evaluation of policy instruments, comparison between countries and central-local relations. Finally, the study assists each country and others to draw lessons from each other.

O atual ambiente de alta competitividade do Mercado tem levado os produtores a operar com margens de lucro cada vez mais restritas. Nesse sentido, é imperativa a racionalização dos custos de produção, bem como a otimização dos processos produtivos. Diante de tal cenário, o controle preditivo baseado em modelos tem sido apresentado como uma poderosa alternativa para a obtenção dos objetivos acima mencionados. Sendo assim, é essencial que seja estabelecida uma metodologia de análise, baseada em critérios claros, acompanháveis e mensuráveis. Atualmente, encontram-se disponíveis no mercado distintas metodologias e suas respectivas ferramentas de suporte, as quais auxiliam na realização de tais análises. Quando se observa o número de soluções de controle avançado disponíveis, juntamente com as metodologias e ferramentas de análise de desempenho disponíveis, nota-se que existe um amplo espectro de possíveis combinações a ser avaliado. O objetivo desse trabalho é estudar algumas dessas combinações. São aqui avaliados o desempenho de controladores preditivos, à luz de algumas das consagradas técnicas de avaliação, bem como a própria efetividade e aplicabilidade de tais técnicas. São utilizados e analisados os seguintes controles avançados: Controlador Preditivo Generalizado (GPC); Controlador Multivariável Robusto; e Controlador ESSMPC. Para a avaliação de desempenho, serão utilizadas e estudadas as seguintes técnicas: Controller Performance Index (CPI); Cp e Cpk; e Índice de Yu e Qin. Os resultados mostraram que o Controlador Robusto Multivariável apresentou desempenho similar ao ESSMPC e ambos apresentaram desempenho melhor que o GPC. Todos os algoritmos apresentaram maior sensibilidade às mudanças nos pesos das variáveis controladas e menor nos pesos das manipuladas. No caso da inserção de erros, os algoritmos apresentam sensibilidade maior até 35% de erro. Após tal valor, a diferença de desempenho não é tão significativa. Além disso, o Cp, Cpk e Índice de Yu e Qin se comportaram de forma similar, mas diferentes do CPI. / The current environment of high competitiveness of the market has led producers to operate with profit margins increasingly restricted. Therefore, it is imperative to streamlining production costs, as well as the optimization of production processes. Faced with this scenario, the model predictive control has been presented as a powerful alternative for obtaining the objectives stated above. Therefore, it is essential to establish a methodology of analysis, based on clear and measurable criteria. Currently, there are different methods and support tools available in the Market which help in such analysis. These methodologies and tools may evaluate the problem only quantitatively (increased production of a particular unit, for example) or qualitatively (how close to the predictions of advanced control solution is the actual behavior of the plant, for example). When one observes the number of advanced control solutions available, along with methodologies and tools available for performance analysis, we note that there is a wide spectrum of possible combinations to be evaluated. The aim of this work is to study some of these combinations. It will be observed the performance of advanced control solutions, through some of the most famous evaluation techniques, as well as their own effectiveness and applicability of such techniques. For the execution of the work will be used and analyzed the following advanced control solutions: Generalized Predictive Controller (GPC); Robust Multivariable Controller; and Controller ESSMPC. For the performance assessment, it will be used and studied the following techniques: Controller Performance Index; Cp and Cpk; and Qin and Yu Index. The results showed that the Robust Multivariable Controller performance was similar to ESSMPC and both performed better than the GPC. All algorithms showed greater sensitivity to changes in the weights of the controlled variables than on weights for manipulated variables. In the case of error insertion, the algorithms exhibit greater sensitivity up to 35% of mismatch. After this value, the performance difference was not very significant. Moreover, the Cp index Cpk and Qin and Yu behaved similar but different than CPI.

The purpose of the study was to determine the relation between student engagement, academic achievement, and music ensemble performance ratings. The study was guided by two research questions: how do students’ varying degrees of student engagement relate to their academic achievement and their ensemble’s performance rating, and to what extent do behavioral, affective, and cognitive engagement predict ensemble performance ratings? Participants were 259 high school band students who completed the Classroom Engagement Inventory in Music. They were also asked to report their GPA, and the researcher recorded their ensemble’s performance rating. Results suggested that higher levels of student engagement were associated with higher levels of ensemble performance ratings (superior and excellent versus good), with a clear demarcation found between lower rated and higher rated ensembles. Although no significant correlation was found between academic achievement and student engagement, affective engagement was found to predict overall music performance outcomes.

When working on United States Green Building Council’s (USGBC) Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design LEED projects, architects, designers, and engineers involved in a sustainable design project often require information and tools beyond energy simulation software. They may require resources (tools) to support their decisions and to assess the risk involved in decision making. This research has presented a framework that links building performance assessment tools with the LEED rating system. It aims at bridging a gap between Architects, engineers, contractors, facility managers and LEED professionals. This work provides information about performance tools that can be used for different phases during design, construction and operation of a LEED rated building. A simple logic of the transitive property of equality i.e. if a = b, b = c then a = c was used to link the LEED credits requiring decision support with the tools that have capabilities to achieve it. This research presents a 3-dimensional matrix of "Right tool for right job at right time" by linking LEED credits, software tools and phases of building design, construction and operation. Overall the findings of the research demonstrated that the framework developed can be used for achieving 21 percent of total possible LEED 3.0 credits by providing about 36 percent of total possible points.

The steel industry is always considered as the traditional industry that unwilling to make an investment in new information technology, besides several annual sales volumes and more than 3 billion large scale steel maker, there are very few has implemented MIS, eERP, SCM, CRM,etc. that mean the Steel Industry Supply and Demand Chain to take electronization , still have long way go too, even so, the government , society , big factory , information industry person promote the mental and physical efforts of the bet in enterprise's electronization , the government offers favourable measure , society to make the standard , big factory of the industry and invest in the person who carries out the case and best instance , information industry of electronization and provide aid of technology etc., the effect carried on in big electronization specifically of factory is obvious to all, but the information drop of visiting a existence from upstream to downstream in the supply and demand chain is still quite great, the information hedge among enterprises, reduce the transparency of information , the unfairness of the trade, delay, the obstacle of linking up among enterprises fails to suppress effectively, to stepping the enterprise , transnational towing the Utopia in coordination with the commercial speech. This article is focus on ¡§What is the development trend of the Steel Industry¡¦s supply and demand chain systems?¡¨, and how the steel downstream and upstream complay with it , and in order to build and construct the information structure of the supply and demand chain of the steel industry in management tactic topic that the information transparency improves among enterprises (B2B), what happen in relevant enterprises in running the supply and demand chain implementation project? Especially,what need to be changed in existing systems? What is the driver of the changes? As to extant information system, is there any new or change requirements that revise in these decisions? The author has participated in practice going through and experience of every special project actually in the case company over the past over years by ten, extract with a case of chain electronization of supply and demand, make into the research paper of the case. The case company was established in 1973, the total capital is more than 3,200 million NT$, plate the surface steel factory Cold-Rolled, Galvanized Steel Coils, Printed Color Steel Coils for the representative and medium-and-large-sized consistent homework in Taiwan , Southeast Asian steel industry , there is cold-rolled , zinc-plated , roast intact consistent homework procedure of paint, total sales amount is NT$18,900 million in 2004, a customer-oriented, at the orientation builds and constructs one steel industry model as, " We are not biggest but will be the best " , " Investigate steel industry second by enterprise model popularity for eight years in succession international high to is it cold-rolled speciality have , plate surface steel factory march toward to make a profit. Give a new lease of life to and shorten and hand over a procedure, purchases to the procedure , guest and tells the procedure the procedure and system, good staff , shareholder , customer , social relationships that and is devoted to establishing at the same time ; Quality exceeding customers' expectation , Ethical business conduct, Safe and pleasant working environment , Personal development through challenging work, Fair reward to employees , set up the good mechanism of communication with supplier and customer, it is satisfied with the environment to create the staff , feedback the social home town. With the quality policy that ¡§Correctly grasp each customer's expectation¡¨, the market coming to get up because should be new developing, new customer develop and set up with the new stronghold , set up dynamic fast reaction system , react fast , make policy fast , hand in one quickly , serve fast. The case company always offers better quality products to meet customer's demand , maintain better equipment stability and efficiency. In the tactics of expanding of the market , pay attention to the technological innovation and study development , develop the high additional value products , research and develop the new technology , new application, it set up SCM , CRM , BI ,etc. information infrastructure, give play to ' pursue to the good and not only on to the good ' spirit, cooperate in coordination, set up international and specialized dull and stereotyped steel product group. This thesis carries on the process as follows. To study and present having it about the steel industry and supply and demand chain and the article of the relevant field of transparency of information first . And then state taking action and describing reason of special project designed to solve above-mentioned problems. Then, important incidents happened during taking action of discussion, and explain the case company during special project in order to implement the topic produced of information systems which constructs the supply and demand chain of the steel industry , will to address considering the key factor and key performance and assessment model of the e-SCM and information transparancy implementation, and to provide as a consultation and good application example to the relevant enterprises of steel in the electronic tactics of the supply and demand chain finally.

The performance issues of state-owned enterprises have been concerned by common people. In order to improve state-owned enterprises¡¦ performance effectively, the government should understand their regular operation efficiency adequately and then establish an appropriate evaluation system. However, the roles and functions of state-owned enterprises have changed significantly since the environment changed and economics progressed in Taiwan. As a result, the views and means toward performance assessment are kind of imbalanced. Therefore, this study researched Taiwan state-owned enterprises¡¦ performance assessment system to assess and review the related problems about existing evaluation methods. The aspects include indicators of evaluation, functions of evaluation and executing the system practically. According to document analysis, this study reviewed literature about performance evaluation, and analyzed rules, methods, indicators and overall report of performance assessment from RDEC (Research, Development and Evaluation Commission, Executive Yuan) over the years to realize the meaning of existing performance assessment system and the challenges of implementing the system. Three comments toward this evaluation system are as follows. First, regulate the relationship between the government and each state-owned enterprise appropriately to avoid or reduce government organizations¡¦ improper interference with state-owned enterprises. Then, there will be more objective and more correct evaluation outcomes. Second, the existing grading mechanism may let importance of evaluation indicators be diluted by subordinate ones. The grading mechanism should be established based on operation features of state-owned enterprises and their budget plans. Third, the existing evaluation emphasizes annual short-term performance and lacks of consideration of long-term development and innovation ability. So, the study suggests that government may apply BSC (Balanced Score Card) to adjust the contents of evaluation standards and items. Key words: State-owned enterprises, Performance assessment system, Performance evaluation

Based on the theory of improving the dynamic alignment of balance scorecard strategy in system dynamics, to discuss the dynamic relations among strategic themes, actions and measurements on the strategy map of case, and Using system dynamics model to simulate the scenarios, which usually interference with best decision making. may offer decision-makers more information to take their business actions. This research discovers mainly as: Inspect between the element and the element is linked together the causes and effects back coupling relations in the system, and originally strategy design again by Systems Thinking. The dynamic BSC would be a strategic assessment tools to support managers to make decisions in a large and complicated organization. Through time delay and the effect of negative feedback loops, strategic actions may cause the change of loops, leading to some side effects. As a result, managers may fail to correctly analyze situations and make appropriate decisions, have a complete strategic planning, and have the strategic goal expectably achieved. Policymakers tend to pay too much attention to the variations of the short-time measurements than the long-term structural effect of system. When setting KPI, managers have to consider the influence caused by loops and time delay.

This thesis is broken into two parts. The first part, Chapters 1 - 7, focuses on work completed performing partial performance assessments in two case studies: the region of Peel in the Greater Toronto Area, and Tláhuac, Mexico. In both, pressure transients were monitored using high-speed sensors. The second part, Chapters 8 - 10, proposes a framework for performance assessments of water transmission and distribution systems, primarily applicable to analysis and operation yet useful in (re)design or additional design work as well. The framework is a synthesis of concepts ranging from fuzzy engineering to psychology and human factors, and will be of particular interest to larger, more sophisticated water utilities who may have a general understanding of their systems but lack specific insights in its operation and operational effectiveness. Careful consideration is given to not only the type of information and possible information fusion, but also details of necessary software and hardware, including possibilities for the system architecture.

This thesis is broken into two parts. The first part, Chapters 1 - 7, focuses on work completed performing partial performance assessments in two case studies: the region of Peel in the Greater Toronto Area, and Tláhuac, Mexico. In both, pressure transients were monitored using high-speed sensors. The second part, Chapters 8 - 10, proposes a framework for performance assessments of water transmission and distribution systems, primarily applicable to analysis and operation yet useful in (re)design or additional design work as well. The framework is a synthesis of concepts ranging from fuzzy engineering to psychology and human factors, and will be of particular interest to larger, more sophisticated water utilities who may have a general understanding of their systems but lack specific insights in its operation and operational effectiveness. Careful consideration is given to not only the type of information and possible information fusion, but also details of necessary software and hardware, including possibilities for the system architecture.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Idaho, May 2006. / Major professor: John C. Davis. Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 154-174). Also available online in PDF format.