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ARCHIVED - Performance Reporting: Good Practices Handbook 2011
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Principle 2: Present credible, concise, reliable, and balanced information
There is a common perception among users of public performance reports that the objectivity of such reports is questionable, which consequently puts into question their usefulness to parliamentarians. Concern over the reports containing only positive news means they are not seen as valuable tools to help parliamentarians in their work of holding the government to account and of communicating with their constituents how Canadians benefit from government programs and services.
It is important that a coherent, sound, and balanced picture of performance be presented in the DPR, ideally through a combination of qualitative and quantitative data, so that readers can be confident of the validity and reliability of the information presented. This requires departments to acknowledge where performance did not meet expectations, provide the necessary explanations as to why, and describe the corrective actions that will be taken in the future. Acknowledging performance that did not meet expectations and explaining why shows that an organization is willing to adapt.
The role of evaluation in applying this principle should be highlighted. Evaluation provides evidence-based, neutral assessments that are required to produce reporting that is credible, reliable, and balanced.
Concise reporting is a key element of this principle because of its potential for increasing the usefulness of performance reports. A concise style of reporting focused on the critical aspects of departmental planning and performance will provide parliamentarians with the information required to consider departmental spending plans and performance.
To apply this principle:
- Use the MRRS as the basis of reporting.
- Report positive and negative aspects of performance.
- Provide factual, independently verifiable, evidence-based performance information.
- Provide informative financial tables.
- Use comparisons and trends.
- Provide links to further information.
