IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jadmsc/v15y2025i10p392-d1767115.html

Using AI in Performance Management: A Global Analysis of Local Government Practices

Author

Listed:
  • Godfrey Maake

    (Department of Business and Information Management Services, Tshwane University of Technology, Pretoria 0183, South Africa)

  • Cecile M. Schultz

    (Department of People Management and Development, Tshwane University of Technology, Pretoria 0183, South Africa)

Abstract

The integration of artificial intelligence plays a critical role in human resource management in local governments by ensuring smooth, essential HR operations, including recruitment, performance management, and workforce planning. The current study is a systematic review focused on determining the performance management factors that should be considered when using artificial intelligence in the local government sector. Although artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming increasingly integrated into the governance and administrative systems of local governments around the world, this study raises critical questions about how performance should be managed, measured, and improved. Articles were screened based on their title, abstract, and keywords, following which the inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied. A comprehensive search was conducted in the EBSCOhost, Emerald Insight, Taylor & Francis, Scopus, and SpringerLink databases. These databases were chosen because they are prominent sources that publish various materials related to the social sciences. This scoping review followed the PRISMA-ScR (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews) guidelines and included 22 peer-reviewed empirical studies published between 2015 and 2025. Analysis of the identified 22 peer-reviewed articles revealed that the successful application of AI in local government performance management depends on six critical performance management factors: data quality and accessibility; strategic alignment with performance goals; evaluation criteria and metrics; ethical and legal oversight; institutional capacity and leadership; and change management and stakeholder engagement. These factors are interdependent and represent both technical and organisational dimensions of public administration. This study highlights that AI entails more than innovation; it reshapes the foundations of performance governance, requiring new capabilities, values, and institutional practices.

Suggested Citation

  • Godfrey Maake & Cecile M. Schultz, 2025. "Using AI in Performance Management: A Global Analysis of Local Government Practices," Administrative Sciences, MDPI, vol. 15(10), pages 1-21, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jadmsc:v:15:y:2025:i:10:p:392-:d:1767115
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3387/15/10/392/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3387/15/10/392/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Karina Kenk & Toomas Haldma, 2019. "The use of performance information in local government mergers," Journal of Public Budgeting, Accounting & Financial Management, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 31(3), pages 451-471, September.
    2. Pei‐Chao Lin & Chich‐Hsiu Hung, 2015. "Mental health trajectories and related factors among perinatal women," Journal of Clinical Nursing, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 24(11-12), pages 1585-1593, June.
    3. Hussein Gibreel Musa & Indah Fatmawati & Nuryakin Nuryakin & M. Suyanto, 2024. "Marketing research trends using technology acceptance model (TAM): a comprehensive review of researches (2002–2022)," Cogent Business & Management, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 11(1), pages 2329375-232, December.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Chich-Hsiu Hung & Ching-Yun Yu & Mei-Chuan Huang, 2020. "The Perinatal Biopsychosocial Consequences of Various Levels of Gestational Hyperglycemia," Clinical Nursing Research, , vol. 29(4), pages 268-275, May.
    2. Raghda Abdellatif Abdelkhalik Elsayed, 2025. "Unveiling the black box: understanding digital assets' complexity," Future Business Journal, Springer, vol. 11(1), pages 1-22, December.
    3. Wiston Mbhazima Baloyi, 2026. "A Critical Analysis of Artificial Intelligence and Service Delivery in South Africa: Exploring Opportunities and Obstacles," International Journal of Research and Scientific Innovation, International Journal of Research and Scientific Innovation (IJRSI), vol. 13(4), pages 446-454, April.
    4. Sabelo Mpungose & Lawrence Mpele Lekhanya & Emem O. Anwana, 2025. "A proposed social media adoption model for enhancing the survival and growth of rural SMMEs during the Covid-19 crisis in KwaZulu-Natal," International Journal of Business Ecosystem & Strategy (2687-2293), Bussecon International Academy, vol. 7(3), pages 18-40, June.
    5. Sarot Kankoon & Sataporn Amornsawadwatana, 2025. "Supply Chain Risk in Eyeglass Manufacturing: An Empirical Case Study on Lens Inventory Management During Global Crises," JRFM, MDPI, vol. 18(6), pages 1-13, June.
    6. Vimala Govindaraju & Ivy Chang Swee Fong, 2026. "The Role of Communication in Family Dynamics," International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS), vol. 10(4), pages 5833-5858, April.
    7. Nur Ain Yaacob & Shaufique Fahmi Sidique & Nik Ahmad Sufian Burhan & Ahmad Hanis Izani Abdul Hadi, 2026. "Beyond Adoption: Drivers, Challenges and Farmer-Led Recommendations for Sustained “Internet of Things” (IoT) Use in Malaysian Smallholder Farming," Information Management and Business Review, AMH International, vol. 18(1), pages 65-77.
    8. Nicoleta Valentina Florea & Gabriel Croitoru, 2025. "The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Communication Dynamics and Performance in Organizational Leadership," Administrative Sciences, MDPI, vol. 15(2), pages 1-33, January.
    9. Kingfred Chanda & Erastus Mishengu Mwanaumo & Chikusela Sikazwe, 2026. "Optimising Zambia Railways’ Operations Amid Infrastructure and Workforce Challenges," African Journal of Commercial Studies, African Journal of Commercial Studies, vol. 7(1).
    10. Benjamin Lamptey & Abraham Boakye-Amponsah & Ebenezer Kofi Enninful, 2025. "Newspaper Industry in the Sekondi/Takoradi Metropolis and the Digital Era: Exploring Their Coexistence," Journal of Education and Training Studies, Redfame publishing, vol. 13(4), pages 58-70, October.
    11. Angeli B. Degan, 2026. "The Perspectives on Inayan in the Kankana-Ey Community of Sagpat, Kibungan, Benguet," International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS), vol. 10(4), pages 5043-5066, April.
    12. repec:rbs:ijbess:v:7:y:2025:i:5:p:266-273 is not listed on IDEAS

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jadmsc:v:15:y:2025:i:10:p:392-:d:1767115. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager The email address of this maintainer does not seem to be valid anymore. Please ask MDPI Indexing Manager to update the entry or send us the correct address (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.