Welcome to our Performance-Based Organizations (PBOs) web page. A PBO is a government program, office, or
other discrete management unit with strong incentives to manage for results. The organization commits to
specific measurable goals with targets for improved performance. In exchange, the PBO is allowed more
flexibility to manage its personnel, procurement, and other services. You will find the initial collection of
documents related to PBOs. This collection will expand as our experience grows.
The concept of PBOs was launched in Vice President Gore's speech at the National Press Club on March 4, 1996. In that speech, he spoke of ways agencies could deal with the reality of "Governing in a Balanced Budget World." The first of six basic concepts was PBOs.
On January 11, 1997, at the Blair House retreat, the President and the Cabinet discussed second-term priorities, including PBOs. (See Blair House Papers, January 1997.)
For more information on Performance-Based Organizations, contact John Kamensky, National Partnership for
Reinventing Government, (202) 694-0009 or e-mail: john.kamensky@npr.gov.
