Monitoring water policies in the Netherlands: A rational, political and cultural approach to monitoring and utilisation

New public management has been a catalyst for monitoring activities in the public sector. Although monitoring of policy processes is quite prevalent, the utilisation of these monitors remains under explored. This article analyses the utilisation of information generated by the annual report Water in Focus, by first looking at the characteristics of water policies in the Netherlands. It then distinguishes between theoretical approaches to utilising monitors and the critical factors for utilising monitors suggested by these approaches. Finally, it uses the case of the annual Water in Focus report to draw empirical and theoretical conclusions with respect to the utilisation of information from performance monitors.

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