Environmental Indicator Utility in Environmental Decision Making: A Multiple Case Study Analysis

An environmental indicator is a scientific measurement that tracks environmental conditions overtime. Indicators can be a powerful tool in performance-based management/measurement systems. Performance indicators focus attention on outcomes of programs and can be used for strategic planning, priority setting, resource allocation, and other decision-making processes. Many agencies (governmental and non-governmental) are using program results to improve performance and ensure accountability. There are numerous frameworks around which indicators are structured for utilization and a range of performance measures spanning the spectrum of indicator measures. The various frameworks and performance measures clarify the type of environmental information generated by measurement systems and its value to inform decision-making. Outcome measures positioned at the higher end of the indicator hierarchy, those that address reduction of environmental risk or impacts to the ecology and human health, are the most desirable for informing decision-making. The goal of this investigation is to evaluate how environmental indicators are used inside performance based management/measurement systems and assess the logic linking environmental information to planning, resources allocation and performance review to describe environmental progress and inform environmental decision-making.Master of Science in Public Healt