2003 Executive Summary

2003 Report»

The Department of Natural Resources and Parks (DNRP) is now in its second year of using a results- or outcome-based performance management system to monitor progress towards accomplishing our goals. This system was developed to measure and report the most important information required to understand the condition of King County's natural environment and the results of the department's programs. DNRP will use this information to improve our performance and service delivery through a variety of approaches including programmatic analysis, strategic business planning, and the budget process.

The performance management system was designed by an internal departmental team comprised of the Management Team and experts from each division in response to a directive from King County Executive Ron Sims. The performance management system is designed around a set of seven departmental goals. Based on these goals, specific outcomes were developed. Each outcome is a statement of results of desired condition in people, the organization, the community or the environment. Because outcomes are hard to measure, agency performance measures and environmental indicators were developed as a way to measure our progress toward desired outcomes. Environmental indicators describe the condition of the environment and agency performance measures describe the results of our programs.

We also developed a rating system to help us understand our progress in accomplishing the desired outcomes. The rating system gives percentage scores for each measure based on how the current results or performance compares with targets or the desired outcome. The rating system is applied uniformly to both agency performance measures and environmental indicators. The rating system uses three key elements to evaluate each measure:

1) level of performance,

2) level of performance relative to the 5-year, or 2007, target and

3) level of performance relative to the long-term desired outcome.

These performance-to-target and performance-to-outcome percentages are then given a color-coded rating:

• Green indicates that we are meeting the target or outcome. Green is used only when the performance to target (or outcome)
  
• percentage equals 100 percent.
• Yellow indicates that we have not yet met the target or outcome but that the performance is above a threshold for concern.
• Red indicates that the measure or indicator needs attention. Red is used when the performance to target (or outcome) ratio is below a critical threshold of performance. Because of the diversity of indicators and measures we are measuring, the critical percentage threshold was determined on an indicator-by-indicator basis.

The condensed summary of all indicator and measure ratings are presented in a chart (Adobe Acrobat format) you may open by clicking the image below.

As the goal of using performance measures is to improve our environment and the effectiveness of our programs, we naturally set the bar higher than where we are right now. So, in this second year of an ongoing process, the number of yellow and red measures and indicators shows how much work still needs to be done. In addition, the yellow and red measures show where resources should be directed to help us achieve success.

Out of a 39 total rated performance measures, 15 are currently meeting the target, 19 are not yet meeting or are below the target, and five need attention. The 15 performance measures that are already meeting targets will need continued focus to ensure we maintain high performance. The 19 measures that have not yet reached the 2007 target require ongoing attention and the five red measures need significant programmatic and budget attention.

This document is to be used as a tool to assist decision-making. It requires rigorous review, an iterative process to evaluate our progress, make corrections or adjustments, and re-examine our approaches. Over the next few years the department will continue to evaluate the indicators and measures and make adjustments as necessary to maximize our ability to meet or exceed our goals and accomplish the department's mission. Ultimately, DNRP expects this report to form the basis for informed discussion and debate about how we, as an agency, are best able to accomplish our mission and goals and meet the needs of the residents of King County.

For questions about the Department of Natural Resources' 2003 Performance Measures Report, please contact Michael Jacobson, Performance Measures Internal Consultant.

For questions about the Department of Natural Resources and Parks Website, please contact Fred Bentler, webmaster.

Department of Natural Resources and Parks

Updated: Jul. 16, 2004

Related Information:

King County Performance Measurement

King County Benchmark Report

DNRP 2003 Annual Report (3.2 Mb pdf)