Getting better value from public sector research ... - CentreForum

Getting better value from Public Sector Research Establishments
testing, emergency response and consultancy services to
government, industry and the general public. These span a
diverse range of areas, such as DNA testing, health threat
assessment, standards setting, certification and advising on
and implementing various forms of emergency response.
Research in these establishments is generally highly applied
(rather than fundamental) research, as befits their role of
sustaining and developing a wide range of services, and
supporting the development and implementation of specific
policy areas.
Assessing the performance of these organisations requires
an understanding of the roles they perform for government
and the wider public benefit. There are broadly two key
requirements:
:
:
Specialist scientific/technical services – such as evaluation,
testing, standards setting and maintenance, technical
consultancy, emergency response, etc.
Scientific/technical advice and input to policy making and
decision making which is up-to-date, impartial, timely,
comprehensive and forward looking
Assessing performance
Two broad criteria were used to assess performance:
:
:
To what extent government got (and is it getting) what it
has stated it wants at the required quality level, and are
there wider benefits to the economy?
How has the organisation performed financially?
On the first of these all the organisations appear to be
performing well whatever their organisational status. There
are no indications of consistently poor quality, and indeed
many examples of highly regarded technical input to
government policy, and high quality services.
The main difference in performance between the
organisations turns out to be how they perform financially
and organisationally. Here there are significant differences in
efficiency and growth rates.
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