PAD 599 Conclusion Paper

Introduction

In this paper, I will develop an in-depth analysis and evaluation of the U.S. Government Accountability Office’s ethics, cooperation, leadership, and leadership decisions. I will then provide recommendations for the agency. To obtain these recommendations I have conducted interviews with agency representatives and researched related sources concerning the agency.

Administrative Ethics

The Government Accountability Office (G.A.O) has been serving the United States for over 80 years. During that time, they have encountered many businesses or programs that have tried to mislead either Congress or the American public. It was very interesting to read President Obama was first one the list. One of the articles I was reviewing was concerning our healthcare premiums and the copays or deductibles that would suddenly rise. The GAO reported their opinion; however that is all it can do report an opinion on how Treasury funds were spent to pay insurance premiums to help keep them from going any higher. Some in Congress felt the President bend the law to his own interpretation, and others felt the help to the health insurance was needed. (NY Times 9, 2016)

The second article I reviewed involved a very rich Chinese realtor that purchased several entertainment companies. However, sixteen members questioned this foreign company’s purchase. It seems that it raised a matter of national security. Who would have thought that movie theaters could be measures of national security? Well as put by these members of Congress these “soft companies” as they called it, could use media and propaganda to control the public. A letter was sent to the GAO to initiate an investigation on the Chinese realtor Dalian Wanda Group. (NY Times 9, 2016)

Within this same article, you can see why Congress is a little skeptical with foreign companies as they continue to buy within the United States. They make mention of another company, Sygenta being Swiss. This company mainly farming chemicals, however they are owned by a Chinese Chemical Corp. I could see why our Congress would be concerned with this information. If foreign purchases of this nature continue the GAO must review these companies.

Leadership Influences

With the large number of departments found within the umbrella of the GAO, there are just as many leadership roles to assess and how they relate to the political arena positively or negatively. The GOA is a neutral and independent agency that reports to the Congress, most of the time it is called the “watchdog”. Most of the leaders have not been received with a welcome hug, but they have got the job done. The following are the three leaderships I have assessed:

· John R. McCarl: He was the first Comptroller to the GAO for over 15 years. Not many people know how he became appointed. However, he was a very decisive leader. During his time as Comptroller he made many decisions concerning government expenses, conducting audits, and many other crucial fiscal matters. Most times his harsh decision was met with controversy, and Congress would pass legislation changing the law.

· Joseph Campbell: An actual accountant to take the role of the Comptroller at the GAO. In the line of succession, Campbell was the fourth leader within the GAO. He became the Comptroller after Lindsay C. Warren the previous Comptroller had died due to poor health conditions. However, Campbell made great changes to the GAO by bringing in a program that would recruit college graduates that concentrated in the field of auditing. Campbell trained everyone within the GAO and completely revised the agency; he was there to protect the taxpayer’s money. However, other leaders were not as happy to welcome him.

· Elmer B. Staats: As the fifth Comptroller, Staats was one of the best leaders of the GAO. He was seen as a strong advocate of public service and provided constructive change within the GAO. Staats worked to focus on GAO’s internal planning processes and on expanding its work and issue areas to more effectively serve the Congress. Staats was the Comptroller during the Vietnam War, and under those dangerous conditions GAO’s auditors conducted fieldwork. Staats made sure that office remain operational. Much like this this, there were a great deal of many other issue Staats worked on during his 15 year term. He did well to improve many issues within our government.

Legal Decisions

The GAO reports on many areas on the vast agencies within our government. While researching the regulations they have helped to enforced I found that they first reported on the changes to our voting systems back in 2008. These changes have helped shaped the many voting changes we have seen throughout the current years. Many may say we still have flaws within our voting system; however the GAO enforced the necessary changes to help many groups in our nation’s population that were not being accessed. Another report was prepared and directed for the Committee of Homeland Security on the importance of Cybersecurity. The report pointed out all major sectors such as banking, healthcare, communications, safety, etc. It detailed why it was necessary for the government to work together with the private sector and its IT systems. The report labeled it a matter of national security. This report was generated on September 2008, it is now 2017 and during this year we have seen many of our private sectors hack and taken down constantly. It was just good accountability on the part of the GAO to understand to partner with the private sector in this area and to use their power was even better.

Strategies for Consideration to Administrative Processes

According to the GAO’s Summary of Performance and Financial Information Report for the Fiscal Year 2016, the GAO made progress within four challenges the agency faced. The four challenges were human capital, engagement efficiency, information security, and telework. (GAO-17-2SP: Published: Jan 18, 2017. Publicly Released: Jan 18, 2017.) The brief summary given to the challenges did not indicate if the challenges were overcome with success.

If the GAO were to expand the training and ensure the telework program were to be success. The telework program has become essential in the workforce in our nation. However, without proper management many employees suffer and return to regular office life. Another challenge mentioned by the GAO was engagement efficiency. Since the GAO is a rather large agency it should utilize several methods of outreach and communication. Methods to keep the levels of feedback continuous, providing the employee with support from management.

Improvements to Administrative Processes

To bring immediate improvement within the GAO, I recommend a change to their management style and internal control. If perhaps a change were to be made in this area, then the challenges found within human capital, engagement efficiency, information security, and telework would not continue. If the same offices within the GAO continue to meet the same challenges, there is definitely room for improvement within these areas.

Monitoring the internal controls to improve the challenges the offices would increase their accountability. Noting any progress if any, implementing any necessary changes accordingly. Assessment of the management style has to be taken under consideration. Identifying the managing challenges and planning what changes would work strategically.

References