Government Accounting · Topic 10

Public Sector Performance and Value for Money Quiz

Work through 25 multiple-choice questions, one at a time. Submit each answer for feedback. At the end, review your score and see which concepts to revisit.

Review the Q&AGovernment Accounting quiz path
1. A buyer compares suppliers that can all deliver the same required quality on time. Which concept best fits this case?
2. Two clinics deliver comparable services but one uses fewer staff hours per visit. Which concept best fits this case?
3. A training program meets attendance goals but employment outcomes fail to improve. Which concept best fits this case?
4. A vaccination team reports number of doses administered and changes in disease incidence. Which concept best fits this case?
5. A road program cuts cost per repair by narrowing what counts as a repair. Which concept best fits this case?
6. A buyer compares suppliers that can all deliver the same required quality on time. What is the most appropriate next step?
7. Two clinics deliver comparable services but one uses fewer staff hours per visit. What is the most appropriate next step?
8. A training program meets attendance goals but employment outcomes fail to improve. What is the most appropriate next step?
9. A vaccination team reports number of doses administered and changes in disease incidence. What is the most appropriate next step?
10. A road program cuts cost per repair by narrowing what counts as a repair. What is the most appropriate next step?
11. A buyer compares suppliers that can all deliver the same required quality on time. Which evidence is most directly useful?
12. Two clinics deliver comparable services but one uses fewer staff hours per visit. Which evidence is most directly useful?
13. A training program meets attendance goals but employment outcomes fail to improve. Which evidence is most directly useful?
14. A vaccination team reports number of doses administered and changes in disease incidence. Which evidence is most directly useful?
15. A road program cuts cost per repair by narrowing what counts as a repair. Which evidence is most directly useful?
16. A buyer compares suppliers that can all deliver the same required quality on time. Which conclusion is best supported?
17. Two clinics deliver comparable services but one uses fewer staff hours per visit. Which conclusion is best supported?
18. A training program meets attendance goals but employment outcomes fail to improve. Which conclusion is best supported?
19. A vaccination team reports number of doses administered and changes in disease incidence. Which conclusion is best supported?
20. A road program cuts cost per repair by narrowing what counts as a repair. Which conclusion is best supported?
21. A buyer compares suppliers that can all deliver the same required quality on time. Which shortcut would most directly undermine the work?
22. Two clinics deliver comparable services but one uses fewer staff hours per visit. Which shortcut would most directly undermine the work?
23. A training program meets attendance goals but employment outcomes fail to improve. Which shortcut would most directly undermine the work?
24. A vaccination team reports number of doses administered and changes in disease incidence. Which shortcut would most directly undermine the work?
25. A road program cuts cost per repair by narrowing what counts as a repair. Which shortcut would most directly undermine the work?
Show the answer key
  1. Economy Economy considers cost alongside appropriate quality and availability.
  2. Efficiency Efficiency relates inputs to outputs.
  3. Effectiveness High attendance does not establish achievement of the outcome goal.
  4. Output versus outcome Doses administered measure delivery while incidence relates to outcomes.
  5. Indicator validity Changed definitions can undermine apparent performance gains.
  6. Compare total cost for timely inputs meeting the specification Economy considers cost alongside appropriate quality and availability.
  7. Compare outputs per unit of resource after considering service comparability Efficiency relates inputs to outputs.
  8. Assess whether the intended outcomes improved and investigate causes High attendance does not establish achievement of the outcome goal.
  9. Classify service volumes separately from changes in population health Doses administered measure delivery while incidence relates to outcomes.
  10. Check definitions and quality before comparing reported unit costs Changed definitions can undermine apparent performance gains.
  11. Comparable bids, quality requirements and delivery terms Compare total cost for timely inputs meeting the specification.
  12. Service counts, staff hours and case-mix data Compare outputs per unit of resource after considering service comparability.
  13. Participant outcomes, targets and relevant comparison data Assess whether the intended outcomes improved and investigate causes.
  14. Vaccination registers and disease surveillance data Classify service volumes separately from changes in population health.
  15. Indicator specifications, work orders and quality checks Check definitions and quality before comparing reported unit costs.
  16. Economy considers cost alongside appropriate quality and availability Comparable bids, quality requirements and delivery terms can support that assessment.
  17. Efficiency relates inputs to outputs Service counts, staff hours and case-mix data can support that assessment.
  18. High attendance does not establish achievement of the outcome goal Participant outcomes, targets and relevant comparison data can support that assessment.
  19. Doses administered measure delivery while incidence relates to outcomes Vaccination registers and disease surveillance data can support that assessment.
  20. Changed definitions can undermine apparent performance gains Indicator specifications, work orders and quality checks can support that assessment.
  21. Selecting the cheapest product regardless of whether it meets specifications Economy considers cost alongside appropriate quality and availability.
  22. Calling a clinic efficient solely because it has a lower total budget Efficiency relates inputs to outputs.
  23. Reporting attendance alone as evidence of successful employment outcomes High attendance does not establish achievement of the outcome goal.
  24. Treating doses and disease reduction as interchangeable indicators Doses administered measure delivery while incidence relates to outcomes.
  25. Assuming a better ratio proves more efficient work with no comparability check Changed definitions can undermine apparent performance gains.

These are hypothetical examples. Local reporting frameworks and budget rules vary. INTOSAI performance audit principles