Accenture's fifth annual global e-government study

High performance
in government
What characterizes high performance in government Through our extensive research and experience
in the public sector, Accenture has found that true high-performance governments bear
unmistakable hallmarks. High-performance governments generate maximum public value. They are
relentlessly citizen centered and outcome focused. Their capabilities and operational activities all
support the delivery of outcomes defined by their mission, and they measure their performance based
on those outcomes—not just inputs and outputs. At the same time, high-performance governments
are committed to cost-effectiveness. They hold themselves accountable; they actively accept their
role as stewards of the public trust; and they make their operations and results transparent to all.
They are innovative and flexible, continually striving to improve value delivery, and are able to
respond creatively to new challenges and opportunities. They work in open and collaborative ways,
understanding that their organization is part of a larger system, and cultivate working relationships
with other agencies, organizations and stakeholders. Finally, high-performance governments
reflect their enthusiasm for delivering public value. This evident passion engages both internal
staff and external stakeholders in active support of their organizations’ missions.
Electronic government (eGovernment) enables high performance. It enables better outcomes for
less cost—maximum value from every resource expended. It provides an avenue for enhanced
or entirely new customer services—services that may not even have been imagined yet. In the
process it helps governments transform service delivery, so that they meet their obligations to
their stakeholders in the most efficient and cost-effective way possible.