Performance management in the public sector: fact or fiction?

Since New Labour came to power in the UK in 1997, there has been a drive to improve the effectiveness of public services through the use of private sector principles. From, the Modernising Government White Paper to the development of the Public Services Productivity Panel who, produced a raft of White Papers tackling health, social services, welfare and criminal justice. This paper, through the analysis of two studies, will reflect on some of the general literature on public sector performance management and the findings and recommendations of the Public Services Productivity Panel in order to attempt to answer whether performance management in the public sector is currently fact or fiction? In other words the paper will aim to develop and answer, to a certain extent, if it really possible to raise productivity and performance within public sector organisations through developing performance management systems based on private sector experience.