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Performance Measurement & Accountability Flashcards

7 cards from real CPM practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.

Read the first 7 Performance Measurement & Accountability flashcards as text

  1. A CPM candidate reviews a program with high output numbers but declining community well-being scores. This situation most likely indicates:

    Answer: Outputs are being produced but are not translating into desired outcomes

    High outputs with poor outcomes signal that activities may not be aligned with the program's ultimate goals.

  2. Under the Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA), federal agencies are required to:

    Answer: Develop strategic plans and annual performance reports linked to measurable goals

    GPRA mandates that federal agencies set strategic goals, measure performance against them, and report results publicly.

  3. Which type of performance measure counts the number of potholes repaired in a month?

    Answer: Output measure

    Output measures count the direct products or services delivered by a program, such as potholes repaired.

  4. A public manager wants to compare her agency's permit approval rate to similar agencies in neighboring states. This technique is called:

    Answer: Benchmarking

    Benchmarking involves comparing an organization's performance against peers or best-in-class organizations to identify improvement opportunities.

  5. In performance-based budgeting, funding allocations are primarily driven by:

    Answer: Evidence of program results and achievement of measurable outcomes

    Performance-based budgeting links funding decisions to demonstrated program effectiveness and outcome attainment.

  6. Which element of SMART goal-setting ensures that a performance target can be objectively verified?

    Answer: Measurable

    The 'Measurable' element of SMART goals ensures progress can be tracked with concrete data rather than subjective assessment.

  7. A dashboard shows a 'red' status for a water quality compliance metric. What is the appropriate first management response?

    Answer: Investigate the root cause and develop a corrective action plan

    A red-status indicator is a signal to diagnose the problem's root cause and implement corrective action, not to adjust reporting.