Analysis of Institutional Performance in the Public Function of the Departments in Colombia by Clustering and Artificial Neural Networks

Abstract

One of the central functions of the Administrative Department of Public Administration in Colombia is to evaluate and promote institutional performance in the field of public administration. In this context, the purpose of this study is to analyze the institutional performance achieved by the 32 departments that make up the Colombian territory during the year 2023. For this purpose, a cross-sectional, descriptive and quantitative methodology was implemented, supported by advanced clustering techniques and artificial intelligence neural networks. These tools made it possible to classify the departments into homogeneous cluster profiles and project their institutional performance, based on the results of the measurement carried out by the Administrative Department of the Civil Service within the framework of the Integrated Planning and Management Model (MIPG). The findings of the study revealed the existence of four institutional performance profiles, which reveal notable regional disparities. In quantitative terms, 62.5% of the departments recorded a performance rated between good and excellent, with an average score of 85.5 out of 100. On the other hand, the remaining 37.5% obtained an average rating of 64.3 out of 100, which places them in a range of low to regular performance. These differences underscore the heterogeneity in institutional capacity and the effectiveness of public management at the departmental level. The results of this research have significant implications for public management in Colombia, as they not only identify institutional performance profiles, but also highlight the critical variables that influence these results. This information is fundamental to guide decision-making, focus efforts and design public policies that promote continuous improvement of departmental administration. The study also contributes to reducing regional gaps and strengthening governance in the country, which represents progress towards more efficient, transparent and equitable public management.