Intergovernmental Relationships and the Federal Performance Movement

Although implementation of the federal Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA) has provided the framework for the federal performance effort, other efforts have been undertaken within federal agencies to balance the two often conflicting imperatives: to provide states with flexibility and yet maintain a commitment to performance outcomes that acknowledges the expectations of those who fund and authorize programs. This analysis seeks to develop a typology to examine the ways that the federal government has attempted to bridge the goals of funders with the demands of those who implement programs. This article highlights six different approaches that have been taken recently within federal agencies: performance partnerships, incentives, negotiated measures, building performance goals into legislation, establishment of standards, and waivers. Copyright , Oxford University Press.