This article supports the Flemish Government’s efforts to improve the efficiency in the public sector, but points out that efficiency has to be considered in the broader context of a well-performing and well-functioning public sector. After describing the main motives for efficiency...

1. Introduction -- 2. Defining the concepts -- 3. The history of performance management -- 4. Performance measurement -- 5. Incorporation of performance information -- 6. The use of performance information -- 7. Users -- 8. Non-use -- 9. The effects of using performance information -- 10. The...