Understanding the role of performance targets in transport policy

Marsden, G. and Bonsall, P. (2006) Understanding the role of performance targets in transport policy. Transport Policy, 13 (3). pp. 191-203. ISSN 0967-070X

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Abstract

The measurement of performance in the public sector has become increasingly important in recent years and it is now commonplace for transport organisations, and local and national governments, to publish performance goals for service supply and quality. Such commitments, when time referenced, are known as targets. This paper explain how changes in management style, consumer rights legislation, contractual obligations and other factors have combined to make management-by targets increasingly common in the public sector. The advantages and disadvantages of management-by-targets are illustrated through discussion of the processes and experience of setting transport targets in UK national transport policy. We conclude that while some of the targets have had a significant impact on policy makers, managers and their agents, the effects have not always been as intended.

Item Type:	Article
Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information:	© 2006 Elsevier B.V. This is an author produced version of a paper published in Transport Policy. Uploaded in accordance with the publisher's self-archiving policy.
Academic Units:	The University of Leeds > Faculty of Environment (Leeds) > Institute for Transport Studies (Leeds)
Depositing User:	Adrian May
Date Deposited:	03 May 2007
Last Modified:	08 Feb 2013 17:04
Published Version:	http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/09670...
Status:	Published
Publisher:	Elsevier Science
Refereed:	Yes
Identification Number:	10.1016/j.tranpol.2005.09.001
Related URLs:	http://www.its.leeds.ac.uk/
URI:	http://eprints.whiterose.ac.uk/id/eprint/2458

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