Managing for Results

This testimony provides GAO's preliminary observations on the implementation of the Government Performance and Results Act--the federal government's central goal-setting and performance measurement statutory initiative. GAO discusses the following five emerging challenges to the effective governmentwide implementation of the act: (1) developing and sustaining top management commitment to the act, (2) building the capacity of agencies to implement the act and use the resulting performance information, (3) creating incentives to implement the act and change the focus of management and accountability, (4) integrating the act into daily operations, and (5) strengthening congressional oversight. If the act is to achieve its objectives, top federal officials must assume personal leadership for its implementation. Agencies will also need to build capacity and provide incentives for focusing on results and to integrate the act into their daily operations.