Methodology
Our Data and Methods
The Regional Government Success Scorecard (RGSS) is constructed using a defined measurement framework that organises dimensions into 4 pillars and applies a consistent approach to data collection, treatment, and scoring. Indicators are selected based on their relevance to local government performance, availability at the regency and city levels, and suitability for comparison across jurisdictions. Where necessary, data is standardised so that values drawn from different sources can be interpreted within a common framework.
The methodology is designed to balance breadth with practicality. It combines indicators that reflect government capabilities, inputs, outcomes, and contextual conditions, while limiting the framework to data that can realistically be sourced, updated, and compared over time.
The Regional Government Success Scorecard draws on a mix of official administrative data, national statistical data, and other publicly available datasets that provide coverage at the regional government level. These sources are assessed for relevance, comparability, and consistency before being incorporated into the framework.
The development of the Scorecard has been informed by a review of international performance indices and existing Indonesian measurement frameworks, two expert methodology workshops, focus group discussion with government officials, and consultation with key government institutions including the Ministry of Home Affairs (Kemendagri), the Ministry of National Development Planning (Bappenas), Statistics Indonesia (BPS), and national associations of local governments (APEKSI and APKASI). Academic partnership with the Institute for Economic and Social Research at Universitas Indonesia (LPEM FEB UI) has helped ensure the framework is locally grounded and aligned with Indonesia’s decentralised governance context.
Data Sources
- National statistical datasets
- Government administrative records
- Official regional-level publications
- Publicly available sectoral datasets
- Supporting metadata and technical documentation
Research & Consultation
- Literature review of international government performance indices and country case studies
- Systematic scan of existing Indonesian sub-national indices and reporting instruments
- Two methodology workshops with international subject-matter experts
- Consultations with Kemendagri, Bappenas, BPS, APEKSI and APKASI
- Academic partnerships with the Institute for Economic and Social Research at Universitas Indonesia (LPEM FEB UI)
Weighting and Scoring
The RGSS gives each region a final score between -1 and 1, where positive means the region outperforms its structural peers, negative means it falls short, and zero means exactly at the peer group level. The aggregation process starts at the data source (or “indicator-metric”) level, where each indicator-metric is first normalised; indicator-metrics within the same dimension are then averaged, and those dimension scores feed into three pillars (Capabilities, Inputs and Performance) with equal weight. A fourth pillar, Foundational Environment, works differently: it captures structural conditions outside any government’s control, and we use it to define each region’s peer group. Using the Dynamic Peer Comparison (DPC) method, each region’s score reflects how far its performance sits above or below its peer group average. We apply DPC separately within cities (kota) and regencies (kabupaten), removing the structural advantages that urban areas typically hold and making all 514 regions comparable on the same scale. Full details of the methodology are in the document below.
Guidelines for Use
The Regional Government Success Scorecard is intended to support a broader process of validation, learning, and improvement, rather than to function only as a static measurement tool. Its findings should be interpreted carefully and in context, taking into account differences in starting conditions, institutional arrangements, and the broader foundational environment within which regional governments operate.
The RGSS framework itself is also not fixed and may be further developed over time. This may include expanding the framework through the incorporation of additional data, as well as adapting its design and application to reflect different contexts, needs and priorities. It may also help to highlight areas where further capability-building could be beneficial, with insights informing targeted efforts by relevant stakeholders where appropriate.
Download Methodology
The methodology document sets out the framework, indicator structure, data sources, and measurement approach used in the Regional Government Success Scorecard. It is intended to provide greater transparency on how the Scorecard is constructed and how results can be interpreted.
Download the document to learn more about the design choices, scoring approach, and data considerations that underpin the framework.
