Contents
1. Inspectors-General and the Demand for Accountability
2. The Legislative Mandate
The Legislative History
Competing Operational Objectives
Detecting Fraud, Waste, and Abuse
Prevention Versus Detection of Fraud, Waste, and Abuse
Promoting Economy and Efficiency
Implications of Different Missions for Relations with Program Managers
Presidential Mandates for the Offices of Inspectors-General
Organizing and Staffing the Offices
Defining the Work
Reducing Fraud and Abuse Versus Promoting Efficiency
Detection Versus Prevention
Internal Focus Versus External Focus
Relationship with Management
4. Evaluating the Impact of the Offices of Inspectors-General
A Compliance Inspection of the Offices of Inspectors-General
Enhanced Financial Integrity: The Improved Detection of Fraud and Abuse
Reduced Costs and the Promotion of Efficiency
Summary
Relations with Program Management and Political Oversight
5. Summary and Conclusions
Conclusions About the Impact of the Offices of Inspectors-General
Relationships with Congress and Program Managers
Terms of Accountability and the Measurement of Performance
Appendix A. The Concept of Accountability
Accountability for Outcomes, Outputs, Processes, or Resources
Monitoring Performance
The Spirit of the Relationship
Ambiguity About the Principal and the Purposes
Problems in Measurement
Third Party Production
Innovative Programs
Sanctions for Performance
Summary
Appendix B. The Impact of the Offices of Inspectors-General on Program Operations