A COLLABORATIVE APPROACH TO PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT: A RESPONSE TO COMPLEXITY CHALLENGES

Abstract

Complexity is a significant challenge for public organizations’ management systems. Based on an extensive literature review, an on-line survey of Lithuanian public servants in strategic management positions, and statistical modelling, this exploratory survey aims to assess whether a performance management system that embraces mechanisms for collaboration affects an organization’s capacity to deal with complex policy problems. We suggest that mechanisms for collaboration – namely, collaborative policy dialogues, reflexive performance measurement, and joint learning forums – enable organizations to better understand complex policy problems, detect emergencies, and develop innovative solutions to address them. The study found that based on the views of experts an organization’s capacity to deal with complex policy problems increased when mechanisms for collaboration are governed by its performance management system.

Keywords: performance management, collaborative management, complexity, complex policy problems, mechanisms for collaboration.