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SELD SW Guidance on targets and trajectories

Set out below are a number of resources we’ve pulled together to provide some initial guidance around the issues of developing targets and trajectories. A useful overview to these issues can be found in the Prime Minister’s Strategy Unit’s (PMSU) resource ‘Strategy Survival Guide: Building an evidence base’, which can be downloaded here.

Targets

Target Setting – a practical guide (I&DEA)

Target setting can sound easy in theory but is difficult to do in practice and many targets do not result in improved performance. In some instances people look at previous performance figures and suggest a target that looks ‘a bit better’. Others calculate targets as mathematical ‘steps’, making fixed increases, often with little thought as to how they will be achieved.
Click here to view the Target Setting Guide.

Target Setting Checklist (I&DEA)

Targets in the Public Sector (Audit Commission)

Briefing from the Audit Commission considers how targets could be used within the changing context of all public services. Clarifies what we mean by targets and what lies at the heart of the debate; and sets out proposals for a way forward that builds on recent developments.
Click here to view the Briefing.

On Target: The Practice of Performance Indicators (Audit Commission)

This paper has been published as a companion to Aiming to Improve, and sets out the lessons that have been learnt. It is aimed at helping managers and practitioners in local government, the NHS and central government to develop their own set of balanced and focused indicators, describing ways to ensure that PIs are robust and well framed.
Click here to view the paper.

Setting Key Targets for Executive Agencies: A Guide (HM Treasury)

This guidance is aimed at those involved in the process of setting targets for Executive Agencies - staff based in the agencies themselves and those in sponsoring departments. It focuses primarily on the key targets that are usually agreed between agencies and their parent Departments and Ministers. However, the guidance will also be useful for staff in other organisations such as Non-Departmental Public Bodies and non-ministerial departments.
Click here to view the Guide.

Setting and using targets (Crime Concern)

This briefing paper aims to provide a step-by-step guide to setting and using targets for cutting crime and disorder, focusing on their use by Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships. Looks at the steps to target setting: deciding what targets should cover; gathering baseline information; deciding where to pitch the target; and deciding how to express the target.
Click here to view the briefing paper.

Crime Reduction target setting checklist (CDRP)

Closing the gap: setting local targets to reduce health inequalities (NRU)

Provides a summary of the policies, theory and practice of setting targets to reduce health inequalities. Offers guidance on setting local targets, including what types of targets to set for what types of strategy. Places the guidance in the context of local experience culled from health improvement programmes, community strategies and health action zones. Identifies the main implementation issues. Includes examples of current practice throughout.
Click here to view the report.

Education Target Setting website (DfES)

Guidance for LAs on target setting (DfES)

Trajectories

A useful overview of the issues around forecasting and calculating trajectories can be found in the Prime Minister’s Strategy Unit’s (PMSU) resource ‘Strategy Survival Guide: Building an evidence base, which can be downloaded here.

A Futurists Toolbox (Cabinet Office)

The toolbox summarises the six key methodologies for futures work. These cover most of the commonly used tools by professional futurists and explores their strengths and weaknesses. Click here to view the toolbox.

Trajectories Presentation (SELD WM)

SELD West Midlands have produced a presentation on trajectories based on the Futurist’s toolbox which can be downloaded here.

For further advice or guidance on targets and trajectories please contact the SELD team. contact the SELD team.



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