This course of study introduces two major areas that contribute substantially to managerial success: 1) understanding budgetary fundamentals, strategies and challenges as it relates to law enforcement agencies and 2) achieving value for money with a budget linked to operational performance. It is designed to provide participants with an understanding of how organizations can evaluate the achievement of their goals, identify their successes and problems, and respond effectively to them while simultaneously meeting community expectations. Course instruction will facilitate and foster an understanding of an agency’s performance as perceived by its managers, community, and elected officials. Financial and operational performance will be reviewed on criteria that are valuable to those stakeholders and to line officers themselves. Resource expenditure will be addressed and evaluated to ensure that community needs are being met.

Strategic management of funds and controlling the dollars being spent is required to assure that organizational goals and objectives are being met within an environment of diminishing financial resources.  The absence of operational standards and lack of a careful system of operational review is often reflected in wasted manpower and inefficiency. Achieving best value within the budget is critical to maintaining staffing levels. Each participant will be able to assess their patrol staffing requirements (85% of budget) according to a formula that will meet external scrutiny. The measures presented during this course support a system of financial and operational accountability for all the organization’s managers. Students will leave with an outline model for a performance management system for their agency.  Training is participative and interactive, engaging students through carefully designed individual and group practical exercises focused on reinforcing learning.  Students will practice using spreadsheets and budget applications on their own laptops/tablets and will be asked to gather and review agency-specific data and information for class exercises.

Performance Management: From Operations to Budgeting is one of four courses comprising the optional Organizational Management Certificate Program.