Measuring up: An Evaluation Toolkit for Local Government

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When governments take the initiative to determine how they are “measuring up” they help ensure that citizens are always getting the best possible service that their tax dollars can buy.

In his new book, Measuring Up: An evaluation toolkit for local governments management consultant Charles Bens provides a set of more than 30 surveys that can be used to help create an ongoing bottomline for the public sector. By paying close attention to “what matters,” says Bens, your municipality can work towards meeting or exceeding the expectations of its citizens.

Divided in six parts, the toolkit includes surveys for assessing community and planning; citizens and candidates; overall organization; decision making; personnel; as well as guidelines for using evaluation surveys.

Approx. 200 pages.

ISBN: 978-0-919779-63-1

Item 0061

Published in Canada by Municipal World Inc.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Charles K. Bens, M.A. has been a public sector researcher and consultant for over 35 years and has worked in 200 cities in the United States, Canada, Latin America, Western Europe and Eastern Europe. He has written six books and over 150 articles on topics ranging from performance measurement and business planning to workplace wellness and electing better politicians. His current client list includes a housing authority, a transit department, a county government and a fleet management operation. Bens is on the editorial board of the National Civic Review and teaches part time at Florida International University’s Institute of Local Government. His firm, Best Practice Consulting, operates out of Sarasota, Florida with occasional projects in Canada where he resided for 25 years.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PART 1 COMMUNITY AND PLANNING

Tool 1.1

COMMUNITY ASSESSMENT

1

Tool 1.2

STRATEGIC PLANNING NEEDS ASSESSMENT

9

Tool 1.3

STRATEGIC PLANNING READINESS ASSESSMENT

15

Tool 1.4

STRATEGIC PLANNING SUCCESS ASSESSMENT

19

Tool 1.5

COMMUNITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ASSESSMENT

23

Tool 1.6

BUSINESS PLAN ASSESSMENT

27

PART 2 CITIZENS AND CANDIDATES

Tool 2.1

CITIZEN INVOLVEMENT

37

Tool 2.2

INCUMBENT EVALUATION

41

Tool 2.3

NEW CANDIDATE EVALUATION

56

Tool 2.4

CITIZEN EVALUATION – What does it mean to be a good citizen?

63

PART 3 ORGANIZATION

Tool 3.1

ORGANIZATIONAL ASSESSMENT

75

Tool 3.2

COMPREHENSIVE ADMINISTRATIVE ASSESSMENT

81

Tool 3.3

INTERNAL COMPETITION ASSESSMENT

89

Tool 3.4

STAFF INVOLVEMENT ASSESSMENT

93

Tool 3.5

MEETING ASSESSMENT – GENERAL

97

Tool 3.6

MEETING ASSESSMENT – SPECIFIC

103

Tool 3.7

CUSTOMER CULTURE ASSESSMENT

107

Tool 3.8

INTERNAL CUSTOMER ASSESSMENT

111

Tool 3.9

COMPETENCY ASSESSMENT

115

PART 4 DECISION MAKING

Tool 4.1

PERFORMANCE MEASUREMENT READINESS RATING

121

Tool 4.2

PERFORMANCE MEASUREMENT SUCCESS ASSESSMENT

129

Tool 4.3

PRIORITY SETTING ASSESSMENT

133

Tool 4.4

ALTERNATIVE SERVICE DELIVERY EVALUATION

137

Tool 4.5

INFORMATION SYSTEM CHANGE MANAGEMENT ASSESSMENT

143

PART 5 PERSONNEL

Tool 5.1

MANAGEMENT ASSESSMENT

151

Tool 5.2

TEAM EFFECTIVENESS

157

Tool 5.3

FACILITATION SKILLS ASSESSMENT

163

Tool 5.4

360º APPRAISAL READINESS ASSESSMENT

171

Tool 5.5

ACCOUNTABILITY ASSESSMENT

175

Tool 5.6

EMPLOYEE MORALE ASSESSMENT

179

Tool 5.7

PEER EVALUATION

185

Tool 5.8

UPWARD FEEDBACK FOR SENIOR MANAGERS

189

PART 6 USING EVALUATION SURVEYS

GUIDELINES

197


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