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U.S. Postal Service: Enhancements Needed in Performance Planning and Reporting

GGD-00-207 Published: Sep 19, 2000. Publicly Released: Sep 19, 2000.
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Highlights

Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO provided information on the Postal Service's (USPS) performance measures, reports, and plans, focusing on: (1) how well USPS fiscal year (FY) 1999 performance report addressed USPS' progress toward achieving the goals established by the FY 1999 performance plan; and (2) whether USPS' FY 2001 preliminary performance plan demonstrates continued progress in developing a reasonable basis for establishing accountability for results.

Recommendations

Recommendations for Executive Action

Agency Affected Recommendation Status
United States Postal Service In order to improve the USPS' future performance reports, the Postmaster General should ensure that all sections of future reports reflect straightforward and clearly stated comparisons of planned targets and results so that readers are not misled regarding performance.
Closed – Implemented
Postal Service Management stated that it agreed with the recommendations and would incorporate them into the Service's GPRA Performance Report in February 2001. GAO's review of the report indicated, as recommended, that the Service had included in its fiscal year 2001 report, more straightforward and clearly stated comparisons of planned targets and results.
United States Postal Service In order to improve the usefulness of USPS' future performance plans, the Postmaster General should include in USPS' future plans: (1) detailed explanations when subgoals, indicators, and targets contained in the prior year's plan are not carried forward into the current year plan; (2) clear criteria, including baseline data where possible, for measuring USPS' success toward achieving stated goals; (3) complete descriptions of strategies to accomplish stated goals; (4) updated information to reflect known or anticipated changes when discussing the linkage between performance goals and major programs; and (5) where applicable, explanations as to why baseline data are not being provided.
Closed – Implemented
Postal Service Management stated that it agreed with the recommendations and would incorporate them into the Service's GPRA Performance Plans. GAO's preliminary reviews of subsequent performance plans indicate that the thrust of this recommendation has been implemented. The Service now incorporates into its annual comprehensive statement of postal operations its GPRA performance report--including analyses--as well as its preliminary future GPRA performance plans. Doing this facilitates easier identification of changes occurring from year to year.

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Topics

Agency missionsPerformance measuresPostal serviceProgram evaluationPublic administrationReporting requirementsStrategic planningPerformance plansPerformance goalsInflation