Cooking the Books: The Ethical Implication of Performance Management on Timely Services for Veterans. (4th March 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Patrick, Barbara A.; Plagens, Gregory K.
• Is Part Of: Public integrity. Volume 20:Number 2(2018)
• Page Start: 150
• Page End: 162
• Publication Date: 2018-03-04
• Subjects: falsification -- fraud -- performance management -- training -- veterans; Civil service ethics -- United States -- Periodicals; Public administration -- Moral and ethical aspects -- United States -- Periodicals; Political ethics -- United States -- Periodicals; Civil service ethics -- Periodicals; Public administration -- Moral and ethical aspects -- Periodicals; Political ethics -- Periodicals; Civil service ethics; Political ethics; Public administration -- Moral and ethical aspects; United States; PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION; CIVIL SERVICE; MORAL ASPECTS; POLITICAL ETHICS; Periodicals; 172
• DOI: 10.1080/10999922.2017.1281701
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1099-9922

Abstract

Abstract : The integrity of the performance reform movement is vulnerable to manipulation because of strains on the principal–agent relationship, yet the quality of performance reforms has been understudied. This case study assesses performance reforms by examining the Veterans Health Administration's development and implementation of a measure of timely medical services for veterans. The analysis reveals that ambitious goals and underdeveloped training programs contributed to unethical actions and data manipulation. Investments in elements crucial to a successful principal–agent relationship and performance measures accounting for ethical behavior could result in more meaningful uses of performance reforms.