Performance evaluation: a comparative study between public and private sectors

Purpose This study analysed international publications related to the performance evaluation (PE) theme to compare the public and private sectors with a focus on the metrics and a reflection on the consideration of each sector's characteristics. Design/methodology/approach In total, two bibliographic portfolios (BPs) were selected with the aid of the Knowledge Development Process-Constructivist (ProKnow-C) instrument, and the literature was systematically and critically reviewed to construct a theme literature map; the metrics analysed the performance evaluation systems (PESs) used in the studies and identified each sector's characteristics and PES behaviour based on these characteristics. Findings The two sectors stand out because of the low incidence of articles with cardinal scales, which enable the measurement and identification of the consequences of performance that are below or above the target. The behaviour of the sector characteristics was unusual, especially regarding the user and the organisational structure; it was found that the presence or absence of critical factors, such as communication, may prove to be a differential of success or failure. An absence of the organisation's particularities when designing and using a PES was noted. Originality/value The contributions relate to (1) identification of the public and private sector characteristics based on the selected literature, which helps in understanding the critical success and failure factors of an organisation's PES, especially with regard to metrics adequacy for each context; and (2) verification of the paths taken by the literature in both sectors.