Introduction

StateStat is a performance-measurement and management tool implemented by Governor Martin O'Malley to make our state government more accountable and more efficient.

Modeled after the CitiStat program that he developed as Mayor of Baltimore City, Governor O'Malley is using this data-based management approach to make Maryland's government work again for the people of our State. The CitiStat program has been studied and emulated by countless jurisdictions from around the globe. CitiStat received the "Innovations in Government" Award by Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government, and now Governor O'Malley is bringing these same principles to the management of statewide services.

Implementation

Key public safety, health care, and social services agencies were selected to form the initial foundation of StateStat review process: the Department of Juvenile Services, The Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services, Human Resources, and Health and Mental Hygiene. The program has expanded to include critical service agencies such as: the Maryland Department of State Police, the Department of General Services, the Department of Labor, Licensing, and Regulation, and the Department of Housing and Community Development.

Process

Through a process of continually evaluating State performance at the highest levels, opportunities to improve coordination and formulate strategies are ongoing - not just during annual budget reviews. At bi-weekly meetings, State managers meet with the Governor and his executive staff to report and answer questions on agency performance and priority initiatives. Each week a comprehensive executive briefing is prepared for each agency that highlights areas of concern. Briefings are based on key performance indicators from the customized data templates submitted to the StateStat office biweekly by participating agencies. Data is carefully analyzed, performance trends are closely monitored, and strategies to achieve improved performance are developed.