Public Accountability: Evaluating Technology-Based Institutions presents guidelines for evaluating the research performance of technology-based public institutions, and illustrates these guidelines through case studies conducted at one technology-based public institution, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). The aim of this book is to demonstrate that a clear, more precise response to the question of performance accountability is possible through the systematic application of evaluation methods to document value. The authors begin with a review of the legislative history of fiscal accountability beginning with the Budget and Accounting Act of 1921, and ending with the Government Performance and Results Act of 1993. A discussion of existing applicable economic models, methods, and associated metrics follows. The book concludes with evaluation case studies.

InhaltsangabeList of Tables. 1. Introduction: Why Evaluate Public Institutions. 2. Public Policies Toward Public Accountability. 3. Economic Models Applicable to Institutional Evaluation. 4. Performance Evaluation Metrics. 5. Case Studies: An Overview. 6. Optical Detector Calibration Program. 7. Thermocouple Calibration Program. 8. Software Error Compensation Research. 9. Ceramic Phase Diagram Program. 10. Alternative Refrigerant Research Program. 11. Spectral Irradiance Standards. 12. Printed Wiring Board Research Joint Venture. 13. Flat Panel Display Joint Venture. 14. Toward Best Practices in Performance Evaluation. References. Index.