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CPA - Comprehensive Performance Assessment

The CPA report for Birmingham is now out. These are the pinnacle of the theory of management by targets. The public sector is now entirely dominated by targets.

The problem with this approach is that it goes through phases. It starts with the targets being part of the management process, then gradually issues that don't appear in targets are considered not to matter. Finally, issues that don't appear in targets are thought no to exist.

It saddens me how much time is wasted by senior management (and by politicians) on things such as the CPA. This time should be spent managing the authority.

It is the Heisenberg's uncertainty principle of management. The time wasted on measuring management in itself undermines management.

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