The latest Vanguard News – May 2009 contains a link to a report in the Economist of 10 May 2009 about the failure of performance targets and comments that “It is good on the problems but not so good on what we should measure”. The Economist report is actually based upon an academic study (Ordonez et al, 2009, Academy of Management Perspectives) that has been reproduced in a number of places, including this one at the Wharton Business School.
Perhaps until we come up with an answer for this perennial issue that government will swallow, we will be plagued with targets? I think they have to take trust onboard and witness successful lean change for themselves…
The matter of targets was also jumped on by the editorial in the current edition of ‘Public Sector Executive’ (March/April 2009) under the title ‘Death by a thousand targets’, so we are not alone.
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The Great E-mancipator 
John Seddon suggested in a recent article that the Audit Commission be reined back to following the money. The removal the specification regime would save hundreds of millions, keep front-line jobs and free local authorities to innovate and improve instead of following targets, tick-boxes and other prescription.
Read the initial letter from Seddon:
http://www.lgcplus.com/5003845.article
Read the attack from the AC:
http://www.lgcplus.com/5004206.article
And read the comments!:
http://www.lgcplus.com/finance-and-partnership/walker-v-seddon-the-debate-goes-on/5004313.article
Blog to show your support for John.