Michigan Public Policy Survey Questions and Data Tables

Some local governments collect internal data that measure their own operations (such as tons of trash collected, emergency response times, etc.). Some collect external data about other local governments for comparing their performance or costs against that of other units. Meanwhile, some local governments don’t collect data in either of these ways. What about your jurisdiction? Do you collect such data? (check all that apply)

a. Yes, we collect internal data regarding our own operations

Some local governments collect internal data that measure their own operations (such as tons of trash collected, emergency response times, etc.). Some collect external data about other local governments for comparing their performance or costs against that of other units. Meanwhile, some local governments don’t collect data in either of these ways. What about your jurisdiction? Do you collect such data? (check all that apply)

b. Yes, we collect external data about other governments

Some local governments collect internal data that measure their own operations (such as tons of trash collected, emergency response times, etc.). Some collect external data about other local governments for comparing their performance or costs against that of other units. Meanwhile, some local governments don’t collect data in either of these ways. What about your jurisdiction? Do you collect such data? (check all that apply)

c. No, we don’t collect data about our own or other governments’ operations

Some local jurisdictions may not end up using the performance data they collect, and others may use data only occasionally on an ad hoc basis. Meanwhile, some jurisdictions use data in a systematic way as part of a formal program, for example, holding regular meetings where performance data are used to guide decision-making. Which of the following approaches best describes your jurisdiction’s use of the performance data it collects? (Among jurisdictions that reported collecting internal or external data)

Please identify the extent to which, overall, your jurisdiction uses measures of inputs (amount of resources used, such as tons of road salt) regarding your internal operations (or operations you contract out) (Among jurisdictions that reported collecting internal data and using data)

Please identify the extent to which, overall, your jurisdiction uses measures of workload (such as a number of fire runs, miles of roads plowed, etc.) regarding your internal operations (or operations you contract out). (Among jurisdictions that reported collecting internal data and using data)

Please identify the extent to which, overall, your jurisdiction uses measures of efficiency or unit cost (such as cost per fire run, cost of providing trash collection services per capita, etc.) regarding your internal operations (or operations you contract out). (Among jurisdictions that reported collecting internal data and using data)

Please identify the extent to which, overall, your jurisdiction uses measures of effectiveness (quantifiable results of a program, such as a decrease in crime, increase in park attendance, etc.) regarding your internal operations (or operations you contract out). (Among jurisdictions that reported collecting internal data and using data)

Please identify the extent to which, overall, your jurisdiction uses measures of citizen satisfaction (citizen ratings of programs, such as a number of complaints received or survey reports of satisfaction) regarding your internal operations (or operations you contract out). (Among jurisdictions that reported collecting internal data and using data)

Please identify the extent to which, overall, your jurisdiction uses measures on contracted services (measures of inputs, workload, etc., on services that your jurisdiction contracts out from private firms, nonprofits, or other governments) regarding your internal operations (or operations you contract out). (Among jurisdictions that reported collecting internal data and using data)

Thinking about who in your jurisdiction is involved in various aspects of your performance management efforts (including data collection, analysis, and reporting), which of the following best describes how your jurisdiction’s performance management efforts are structured? Our performance management activities primarily involve... (check all that apply) (Among jurisdictions that reported using data)

a. Staff whose sole job responsibility is performance management

Thinking about who in your jurisdiction is involved in various aspects of your performance management efforts (including data collection, analysis, and reporting), which of the following best describes how your jurisdiction’s performance management efforts are structured? Our performance management activities primarily involve... (check all that apply) (Among jurisdictions that reported using data)

b. Regular staff who have other (non-performance management) job responsibilities

Thinking about who in your jurisdiction is involved in various aspects of your performance management efforts (including data collection, analysis, and reporting), which of the following best describes how your jurisdiction’s performance management efforts are structured? Our performance management activities primarily involve... (check all that apply) (Among jurisdictions that reported using data)

c. Elected officials

Thinking about who in your jurisdiction is involved in various aspects of your performance management efforts (including data collection, analysis, and reporting), which of the following best describes how your jurisdiction’s performance management efforts are structured? Our performance management activities primarily involve... (check all that apply) (Among jurisdictions that reported using data)

d. An external organization or consultant

How would you rate the overall effectiveness of your jurisdiction’s use of performance data for improving management decisions? (Among jurisdictions that reported using data)

How would you rate the overall effectiveness of your jurisdiction’s use of performance data for guiding budgeting decisions? (Among jurisdictions that reported using data)

How would you rate the overall effectiveness of your jurisdiction’s use of performance data for identifying cost savings? (Among jurisdictions that reported using data)

How would you rate the overall effectiveness of your jurisdiction’s use of performance data for improving program or service quality? (Among jurisdictions that reported using data)

How would you rate the overall effectiveness of your jurisdiction’s use of performance data for guiding compensation decisions for employees? (Among jurisdictions that reported using data)

How would you rate the overall effectiveness of your jurisdiction’s use of performance data for improving communication with your jurisdiction’s Board/Council? (Among jurisdictions that reported using data)

How would you rate the overall effectiveness of your jurisdiction’s use of performance data for improving government accountability and transparency? (Among jurisdictions that reported using data)

Thinking about the amount and types of data your jurisdiction collects and the ways it uses the data to make decisions, would you say the current scope of your jurisdiction’s performance management efforts is too large, too small, or just right? (Among jurisdictions that reported using data)

How likely is it that your jurisdiction will either cut back or expand its performance management activities within the next 12 months? (Among jurisdictions that reported using data)

To what extent, if any, would you say that costs required to collect and use performance data are a problem that your jurisdiction has faced within the last 12 months in its use of performance data? (Among jurisdictions that reported using data)

To what extent, if any, would you say that dedicating the necessary personnel is a problem that your jurisdiction has faced within the last 12 months in its use of performance data? (Among jurisdictions that reported using data)