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WWeesstteerrnn MMiicchhiiggaann UUnniivveerrssiittyy SScchhoollaarrWWoorrkkss aatt WWMMUU Dissertations Graduate College 4-1994 TThhee EEffffeeccttss ooff UUttiilliittaarriiaanniissmm oonn PPeerrffoorrmmaannccee AApppprraaiissaall aanndd SSeelleecctteedd OOuuttppuutt MMeeaassuurreess iinn aa WWeebbeerriiaann BBuurreeaauuccrraaccyy Donald Wayne Wright Western Michigan University Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/dissertations Part of the Social Policy Commons, and the Social Welfare Commons RReeccoommmmeennddeedd CCiittaattiioonn Wright, Donald Wayne, "The Effects of Utilitarianism on Performance Appraisal and Selected Output Measures in a Weberian Bureaucracy" (1994). Dissertations. 1848. https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/dissertations/1848 This Dissertation-Open Access is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate College at ScholarWorks at WMU. It has been accepted for inclusion in Dissertations by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks at WMU. For more information, please contact [email protected]. THE EFFECTS OF UTILITARIANISM ON PERFORMANCE APPRAISAL AND SELECTED OUTPUT MEASURES IN A WEBERIAN BUREAUCRACY by Donald Wayne Wright A Dissertation Submitted to the Faculty of The Graduate College in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Public Administration School of Public Affairs and Administration Western Michigan University Kalamazoo, Michigan April 1994 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. THE EFFECTS OF UTILITARIANISM ON PERFORMANCE APPRAISAL AND SELECTED OUTPUT MEASURES IN A WEBERIAN BUREAUCRACY Donald Wayne Wright, D.P.A. Western Michigan University, 1994 The research explored whether or not a relationship existed between the performance appraisal criteria used by the Social Security Administration and actual performance between 1984 and 1990. The issue was whether or not either of the diverse sets of performance appraisal criteria was more effective in improving performance than the other and whether or not base pay should be tied to the results of the performance appraisal system. The methodology for this study was both quantitative and qualitative. The qualitative technique of content analysis was done on the sets of performance appraisal cri teria to assess the extent to which each set had the research attributes of positive, negative, quantitative and qualitative referents. The quantitative analysis involved using regression analysis and a £.-test to determine whether any significant improvement occurred within either set, including both sets together or between the sets. Processing times for Retirement, Survivor’s and Disability claims were the operational data analyzed for improvement. Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. The Chi-square analysis of the research attributes in dicated a significant difference between the two sets of criteria. It was found that the second set of criteria was more negative and quantitative than the first set. The quantitative analysis of the eight possible relationships between actual performance and criteria set revealed only one relationship improved while seven did not. The conclusion was that neither set was associated with improved performance and that base pay should not be tied to the system until better measurement criteria can be emplaced. The conclusions also called for further research on the relationship between the Civil Service Reform Act of 1978 and performance standards government wide in terms of the research attributes used in this study. Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. INFORMATION TO USERS This manuscript has been reproduced from the microfilm master. UMI films the text directly from the original or copy submitted. Thus, some thesis and dissertation copies are in typewriter face, while others may be from any type of computer printer. The quality of this reproduction is dependent upon the quality of the copy submitted. Broken or indistinct print, colored or poor quality illustrations and photographs, print bleedthrough, substandard margins, and improper alignment can adversely afreet reproduction. In the unlikely event that the author did not send UMI a complete manuscript and there are missing pages, these will be noted. Also, if unauthorized copyright material had to be removed, a note will indicate the deletion. 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Order Number 9426892 The effects of utilitarianism on performance appraisal and selected output measures in a Weberian bureaucracy Wright, Donald Wayne, D.P.A. Western Michigan University, 1994 U M I 300 N. Zeeb Rd. Ann Arbor, MI 48106 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The accomplishment of this degree must be shared by many. My wife Debra deserves the lion's share of the credit. The importance of her emotional, functional and faithful support can not be overstated. I would also like to thank my parents, Donald E. Wright, and Josephine and Harry Swank. I would also like to acknowledge Martin Kolm who frequently served as my devil's advocate and referee in the completion of this work. Each of them contributed by believing in my ability and by allowing me the time necessary to complete this dissertation. The patience, love and understanding of each was significant. I would also like to thank Dr. Ralph C. Chandler, Dr. Kathleen P. Reding, and Dr. William P. Browne. Dr. Chandler's guidance on the theoretical aspect of this research was very important to understanding the true nature of the problem. I would also like to thank Darlene Bell and Shelly Starkloff of the Social Security Administration. Without their assistance, the completion of this research would not have been possible. Donald Wayne Wright ii Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ..................................... ii PREFACE.............................................. 1 CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTION................................... 2 Legal Aspects............................... 2 Operational Aspects ......................... 3 Compassion .................................. 3 The Legal Basis ............................. 4 Operational Basis ........................... 11 Historical Perspective ...................... 12 Operational Changes ......................... 13 Compassion Aspects .......................... 26 II. REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE....................... 32 Overview.................................... 32 Weberian Literature ......................... 32 Utilitarian Democracy ....................... 35 Victor Thompson............................. 38 General Performance Appraisal Literature .... 39 Objective Criteria Literature ............... 44 Social Security Literature .................. 51 III. STATEMENT OF SCOPE............................. 54 Overview.................................... 54 Locus of Research........................... 55 iii Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.
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