Key Performance Indicators as Instruments of Strategic Change: Evidence from the Romanian Public Sector

Abstract

This article explores the use of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) as tools of strategic change in the Romanian public sector. Situated within the broader literature on public management reform, it examines how performance measurement instruments can be mobilized to enhance accountability and support organizational transformation. The study employs a mixed-methods design, combining semi-structured interviews, documentary analysis, and observational research, to investigate the introduction of a KPI-based appraisal system in the cadastral and urbanism departments of Piatra Neamț City Hall (2021-2023). By linking theoretical insights on change management with empirical evidence from a local government case, the article seeks to illuminate the conditions under which KPIs may contribute to institutional learning, performance improvement, and sustainable reform. In doing so, it advances both academic understanding and practical debates on the design and application of performance indicators in transitional administrative contexts.