CPM Performance Measurement & Accountability 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A CPM candidate reviews a program with high output numbers but declining community well-being scores. This situation most likely indicates:
- The program is highly efficient and should be expanded
- Outputs are being produced but are not translating into desired outcomes (Correct answer)
- The well-being survey instrument is unreliable and should be discarded
- Community well-being is outside the scope of agency accountability
Correct 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.
Question 2: Under the Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA), federal agencies are required to:
- Publish annual financial audits reviewed by the GAO
- Develop strategic plans and annual performance reports linked to measurable goals (Correct answer)
- Submit workforce diversity data to the Office of Personnel Management
- Conduct citizen satisfaction surveys every three years
Correct 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.
Question 3: Which type of performance measure counts the number of potholes repaired in a month?
- Input measure
- Output measure (Correct answer)
- Outcome measure
- Efficiency measure
Correct answer: Output measure
Output measures count the direct products or services delivered by a program, such as potholes repaired.
Question 4: A public manager wants to compare her agency's permit approval rate to similar agencies in neighboring states. This technique is called:
- Gap analysis
- Benchmarking (Correct answer)
- Program evaluation
- Cost-benefit analysis
Correct answer: Benchmarking
Benchmarking involves comparing an organization's performance against peers or best-in-class organizations to identify improvement opportunities.
Question 5: In performance-based budgeting, funding allocations are primarily driven by:
- Prior year spending levels adjusted for inflation
- Political negotiation between legislative committees
- Evidence of program results and achievement of measurable outcomes (Correct answer)
- Staff headcount and union contract requirements
Correct answer: Evidence of program results and achievement of measurable outcomes
Performance-based budgeting links funding decisions to demonstrated program effectiveness and outcome attainment.
Question 6: Which element of SMART goal-setting ensures that a performance target can be objectively verified?
- Specific
- Measurable (Correct answer)
- Achievable
- Time-bound
Correct answer: Measurable
The 'Measurable' element of SMART goals ensures progress can be tracked with concrete data rather than subjective assessment.
Question 7: A dashboard shows a 'red' status for a water quality compliance metric. What is the appropriate first management response?
- Change the target threshold so the metric shows green
- Remove the metric from the dashboard to avoid public concern
- Investigate the root cause and develop a corrective action plan (Correct answer)
- Wait one additional reporting period to see if it self-corrects
Correct 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.
CPM Performance Measurement & Accountability 3
A CPM candidate reviews a program with high output numbers but declining community well-being scores.
This situation most likely indicates: