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Performance Analysis for Public and Nonprofit Organizations

Author(s): XiaoHu Wang, PhD, MPA, MA, Professor of Public Administration, University of Central Florida
Details:
  • ISBN-13: 9780763751067
  • ISBN-10:0763751065
  • Paperback    352 pages      © 2010
Price: International Sales $81.95 US List
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Overview

Instructor Resources: TestBank, Examples

Performance Analysis for Public and Nonprofit Organizations provides a step-by-step guide on how to conduct applied performance analysis to improve performance for public and nonprofit organizations. It is designed as a how-to-do manual for public and nonprofit managers who want to know how to conduct performance analysis. It features a practical case-study approach, and includes plentiful exercises and examples with easy-to-use demonstrations of Microsoft Excel.

The book focuses on application of performance analysis tools, not the theory of performance management. This text is an effective learning tool for students in analytical technique courses in public administration and policy programs. With other texts, students may learn about a statistical concept and calculation, but still don't understand the managerial context where the statistical tool applies. Consequently, they often fail to understand the managerial importance of statistical tools they learn, and worse, fail to recognize the correct tool to use when a managerial issue rises. This book  corrects this problem by providing a managerial context that bridges statistical concepts and the managerial reality. The managerial context is performance management, in which performance data are presented, monitored, and analyzed. It is in this performance management context that the usefulness and applicability of statistical tools are illuminated for the learner.

Thoroughly classroom-tested, the book is designed as a textbook for courses of analytical and statistical techniques in public administration and nonprofit management. Each chapter starts with a discussion of tools and related concepts with examples, then presents a factual case study to demonstrate the use of the tools, and ends with a list of practice questions. Equipped with the latest research, the book is also designed for public and nonprofit managers on how to use performance information to improve organizational performance. 
 

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ShowKey Features

Uses a managerial context (i.e. performance management) to teach statistics and analytical techniques. It frames a managerial issue first and then presents an analytical tool that solves the issue

Focuses on applications of analytical and statistical tools in performance analysis

Uses a case-study approach to illustrate the application of performance analysis concepts and tools. Each chapter starts with a discussion of tools and related concepts, with examples, then presents a factual case study to demonstrate the use of the tools, ending with a list of practice questions

Features user-friendly Microsoft Excel to facilitate student learning and includes Excel screen shots for the demonstrations of easy-to-use calculation procedures!

Each chapter provides plentiful examples and exercises

Exercise answers are provided in an appendix to allow instructors and students to check their calculations

Includes the latest literature and research findings on performance management

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ShowTable of Contents

  Preface
Section  I  Foundations
    Chapter  1  Introduction: What Is Performance Analysis?
    Chapter  2  What Is Needed for Performance Analysis?
Section  II  Describing Performance
    Chapter  3  Describing Performance Shape
    Chapter  4  Describing Performance Trend
Section  III  Monitoring Performance
    Chapter  5  Performance Monitoring Basics
    Chapter  6  Performance Monitoring Chart
    Chapter  7  Statistical Performance Monitoring
Section  IV  Understanding Performance
    Chapter  8  Performance Understanding Basics
    Chapter  9  Determining Causes of Underperformance: Relationship Analysis
    Chapter  10  Determining Causes of Underperformance: Performance Modeling
Section  V  Evaluating Performance
    Chapter  11  Performance Evaluation Basics
    Chapter  12  Comparing Two Performance Samples
    Chapter  13  Comparing More Than Two Performance Samples
Section  VI  Conclusion
    Chapter  14  Conclusion: Writing a Performance Analysis Report
  Appendix  A  Statistical Topics, Coverage, and Excel Procedures
  Appendix  B  Answers to Practice Problems
  Appendix  C  Useful Web Sites
  Index
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ShowAbout the Author(s)

XiaoHu Wang, PhD, MPA, MA-Professor of Public Administration, University of Central Florida

XiaoHu (Shawn) Wang is a tenured faculty member in the Department of Public Administration at the University of Central Florida (UCF). He has taught graduate and undergraduate courses in performance management, financial management, statistics, and public management, and is the winner of the UCF Teaching Incentive Award (twice) and Research Incentive Award. His academic research has been published in leading journals in public management and administration. He has conducted many performance analyses for governmental and nonprofit organizations, helping them improve their organizational performance.

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ShowAppropriate Courses

Ideal for primary courses in:

  • Analytical and Statistical Methods in Public Administration
  • Analytical and Statistical Methods in Nonprofit Management
  • Performance management in public or nonprofit organizations
  • Any training courses that target organizational performance

 And secondary courses in:

  • Public management
  • Research methods

As well as for professional training courses offered by professional organizations such as ICMA (International City/County Management Association) or nonprofit organizations.

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ShowSamples & Additional Resources

ShowResources

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