Implementing the balanced scorecard in public sector agencies: An experience in municipal sport services

The public sector is involved in a context of change. Decentralization, performance measurement and a greater emphasis on outputs are some of the main changes. To give public sector managers efficient tools, the adoption of what is considered to be private sector management styles and techniques is now becoming commonplace. The Balanced Scorecard approach has emerged as a new tool that meets many of the above-mentioned challenges faced by public organizations. Nonetheless, few reports of detailed experience in public sector entities are available. This research paper offers an insight into the process of elaborating the Balanced Scorecard for a public sector agency of sport services.