Analysis of Performance Information Use in Tanzania: Insights from Tanzania Public Service College, Tabora

This paper attempted to analyze how public managers use performance information at Tanzania Public Service College (TPSC), Tabora campus. It based on self-reported performance information. We systematically reviewed the TPSC Self-Evaluation Study Report (2019); TPSC Service Delivery Survey report, 2016; TPSC steering committee report, 2017; and TPSC performance reports of 2016-2019. This review was corroborated with interviews from 89 respondents and Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) to offer the following insights: First, despite the presence of sound governance structures in TPSC and adherence to the public service rules and regulations, there is a weak purposeful use of performance information by public managers at TPSC to improve organizational performance through their decisions. This can be attributed to the nature of vertical information flow in TPSC. Second, there is weak culture of performance information use, paucity of performance information, lack of institutionalization of information and support from TPSC top leadership, which could facilitate strong internal use of performance data and in turn, improve organizational performance. Based on the findings, the paper offers recommendations to encourage performance information use at TPSC and NACTE, and points to new avenues for future research.