Of Institutional Strategic Decisions & Performance Indicators: A strategy to improve institutional effectiveness

Recognition of the critical value performance indicators can play on institutional improvement transcends international boundaries. Several American and Mexican universities believe performance indicators can improve institutional decision-making while providing a valid mechanism to meet demands for accountability. Though those institutions value performance indicators, they also fear that current processes for defining indicators neither adequately connect the institutions with their constituents, nor necessarily relate directly to the decision-making patterns of the university. This paper discusses a conceptual basis for the development of performance indicators that effectively: a) improve internal decision-making processes, and b) meet the demands for accountability. Introduction This paper reports the strategy used by the University of Puebla (UAP), in collaboration with Pennsylvania State University (PSU), to introduce a system of performance indicators. The UAP seeks to improve the quality of its programs and services and to increase its efficiency and effectiveness as organization. It recognizes the value of evaluation and quality assurance mechanisms, not merely to demonstrate accountability to their multiple constituents, but more fundamentally, as a basis for