Date of Award

7-1-2023

Language

English

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

College/School/Department

Department of Public Administration and Policy

Dissertation/Thesis Chair

Edmund Stazyk

Committee Members

Ellen Rubin, Stephen Holt

Keywords

Accountability, Civilian oversight, Employee engagement, Outsourced public services, Performance

Subject Categories

Public Administration

Abstract

Building upon the historical Friedrich-Finer debate of the 1940s, this dissertation has shed light on the critical issue raised by these two scholars: the tension between accountability and autonomy inherent in public administration (PA). Over the last 80 years, the landscape of accountability in PA has dramatically changed due to the drastic expansion of the scope and role of government, which were never anticipated at the time of the debate. Many public administrators are now highly specialized experts dealing with complex issues, and holding them accountable for their actions and decisions has become much more challenging. Consequently, the unresolved tension between accountability and autonomy in PA has become even more pronounced, and the question of how we hold un-elected administrators accountable while allowing them sufficient autonomy to carry out their work in ways that ensure optimal government performance still holds its relevance. In this regard, with thorough consideration of the relationships between accountability and public sector performance, this dissertation explores three distinct themes central to accountability the effect of accountability measures on organizational performance, the nature of accountability and motives behind the use of accountability measures, and the significance of public employees’ engagement in realizing accountability and performance aims. These themes are addressed in three studies, with the aim of offering evidence-based insights for deepening our understanding of how and when accountability works and the conditions and circumstances that facilitate greater accountability and improved performance in the public sector. Specifically, the first study investigates the role civilian oversight plays in holding police agencies accountable to citizens and examines the quantitative influence of civilian oversight on police organizational performance in controlling crime and maintaining police-community relationships. By doing so, it attempts to address whether implementing accountability measures lead to actual and positive changes in public agencies, fulfilling their promises of making them perform better and more accountable to citizens. The second study delves into the nature of accountability by exploring public managers’ motives in managing accountability relationships with non-governmental contractors. This study establishes a theoretical foundation for a more comprehensive understanding of public managers’ role in contracting relationships by integrating agency and stewardship theories. The third study highlights the significance of recognizing public employees’ work engagement as a condition necessary for the success of accountability systems. This study investigates how accountability pressures from performance initiatives influence federal agency performance and what is the role of employee engagement in this relationship. In conclusion, this dissertation seeks to bridge the research gap in understanding how and when accountability works and under what circumstances and conditions greater accountability and higher performance could be achieved in the public sector. By doing so, this dissertation further seeks to provide practical guidance for effectively managing accountability in practice.

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