The Scottish Government’s system of outcome-based performance management: a case study of the national performance framework and Scotland performs

This chapter considers the Scottish Government’s National Performance Framework as the overarching aspiration of the Scottish Government which in turns informs and guides public managers across Scotland’s public services. The focus in the chapter is therefore on understanding this system of organisational performance management and the demands of outcome-based performance management on Scotland’s public services and their management. This case study explores the research question on the efficacy of outcome-based organisational performance management in a government context and in particular the ways in which the Scottish Government has implemented its National Performance Framework and its system of communicating performance ‘Scotland Performs’. This case study demonstrates that there are great difficulties in accommodating outcomes in systems of organisational performance management in government but nevertheless governments across the globe are pursuing outcome agendas. Organisational performance management systems in a government context must respond to this change by developing and effectively implementing comprehensive, output and outcome-focused, systems of organisational performance management.