The Effects of Utilitarianism on Performance Appraisal and Selected Output Measures in a

191 Pages·2017·5.96 MB·English

by  Donald Wayne Wright

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Dissertations Graduate College
4-1994
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Donald Wayne Wright
Western Michigan University
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Wright, Donald Wayne, "The Effects of Utilitarianism on Performance Appraisal and Selected Output
Measures in a Weberian Bureaucracy" (1994). Dissertations. 1848.
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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.
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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
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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
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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
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