Definition

Performance auditing has been variously defined. A working definition is as follows:

"Performance auditing is an assessment of the activities of an organization to see if the resources are
being managed with due regard for economy, efficiency and effectiveness and accountability
requirements are being met reasonably."

In this definition the key words are:

a. assessment
b. activities
c. organization
d. resources
e. management
f. economy
g. efficiency
h. effectiveness
i. accountability requirements
j. reasonability

a. Assessment: It means that the auditor formulates a judgment on the basis of relevant and
reliable evidence. The judgment may contain a certain amount of subjectivity and hence may be
contested by the auditee management. But to the extent it is based on agreed facts and is arrived
at after carrying out generally accepted auditing procedures it is treated as valid.
b. Activities: Performance auditing extends to financial as well as non-financial activities of an
organization. It reviews the main operations of the organization. Obviously, it implies that auditors
would require some understanding of technical operations of the auditee. This may necessitate
association of social or physical scientists or other specialists with the auditors.
c. Organization: Performance auditing takes an over view of the activities and functions of an
organization as a whole. In exceptional cases, it may review an isolated project or a program as
well. But for generalized conclusions it is necessary that the organization is reviewed as a whole
in its operational environment.
d. Resources: The resources of an organization consist of money, men, materials, and machines.
Performance auditing reviews all these resources.
e. Management: Management covers such functions as planning, organization, resourcing,
directing and controlling. Performance auditing reviews all these phases of management cycle. It
is not concerned merely with the 'use' of resources.
f. Economy: Review of economy is a primary element in performance auditing. Economy
means acquiring  resources at the lowest cost keeping in view the objectives of the organization.
g. Efficiency: Efficiency refers to the relationship of inputs and outputs. It relates to utilization of
resource.
h. Effectiveness: It means the extent to which an organization achieves its objectives.
i. Accountability requirements: Public managers are responsible to carry out the policies of the
legislature by translating them into appropriate program. Certain resources are provided to them
to implement this program. They are expected to report back to the legislature about the results of
their program. Traditionally, the report to the legislature is presented in the form of appropriation
accounts, which is, as a matter of fact, a report of the financial results. With increased emphasis
on receiving value for money and reducing waste in public spending, more and more legislatures
are demanding reports on operations of government departments and agencies. The Supreme
Audit Institutions have been authorized in a number of countries to report on the economy,
efficiency and effectiveness of government operations. The report of the Supreme Audit
 Institutions comments on the adequacy of the executive department reports, so far as
accountability requirements are concerned. It informs the legislature whether the reports of the
executive operations provide a complete and satisfactory explanation of the results achieved,
keeping in view the resources available to them. Where the reports of the executive are
incomplete, ambiguous or unsatisfactory, the audit report makes a mention of it. Thus
performance auditing acts as a catalyst to increase awareness of accountability among public
managers.
j. Reasonability: The performance auditing adopts the approach of a reasonable manager. It does
not turn an oblique eye to the constraints of the management. Instead it takes into account the
total environment in which executive departments operate. It does not base its judgement on
hind-sight wisdom.