Summary

This report has been superseded by GAO-05-739SP Program Measurement and Evaluation: Definitions and Relationships, May 2005. Both the executive branch and Congress need evaluative information to help them make decisions about the programs they oversee--information that tells them whether, and in what important ways, a program is working well or poorly, and why. To improve federal management and increase the efficiency and effectiveness of government programs, the Government Performance and Results Act required agencies to set goals and report annually on program performance. The annual performance reports are to include both performance measurement results and program evaluation findings. This document describes and explains the relationship between two common types of systematic program assessments: performance measures and program evaluations.