GPRA's Incomplete Institutionalization: A Story of Roots and Branches

This study proposes explanations for GPRA's incomplete institutionalization, and how it has influenced and continues to affect the use of performance management in the US Government. It evaluates the evolving institutionalization of GPRA, PART, and GPRAMA resulting from tensions in three sets of competing PM reform values: 1) performance-performative communications, 2) discretion-accountability, and 3) politics-administration. The study concludes that experiential learning from GPRA's incomplete institutionalization set the stage for today's evidence and data movements and increased instrumental use of performance information in federal agencies.