Journal Articles

Evaluation in management by objectives: A critical analysis of Sweden’s national environmental quality objectives system

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This article investigates what can be achieved by one particular management by objectives
system – i.e. the Swedish National Environmental Quality Objectives system and its evaluation
function. A critical programme theory analysis is first developed to reconstruct the programme
theory of the National Environmental Quality Objectives system. Next, the robustness of the
programme theory is analysed in terms of internal consistency, theoretical support and
empirical support. The results indicate that, while some assumptions underlying the National
Environmental Quality Objectives system are valid, the National Environmental Quality
Objectives’ programme theory has low validity in several respects. The evaluative knowledge
the system produces is only partly relevant to or useable by local actors and industry. While the
state of the environment is observed and measured in the monitoring and evaluation reports,
the direct effects of environmental policy and work are not evaluated, which is a main
weakness of the National Environmental Quality Objectives system. It is unlikely that the
current evaluation function can effectively support achievement of the National Environmental
Quality Objectives environmental objectives. The article suggests that evaluations in support of
network governance are more likely to support National Environmental Quality Objectives
achievement and sustainable development.

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Detail Information

Series Title

Evaluation

Call Number

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Publisher

Thousand Oaks, CA : Sage Publications., 2016

Collation

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Language

English

ISBN/ISSN

13563890

Classification

NONE

Content Type

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Media Type

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Carrier Type

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Edition

Volume 22, Issue 2, April 2016, 2016; pp. 190–208

Subject(s)

evaluation function
management by objectives
program theory analysis

Specific Detail Info

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Statement of Responsibility

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