Professor Christopher Hoods research on results targets cited
A new article in the Guardian online (1 February) on the problems with payment by results management cites the analysis of Christopher Hood on the perverse incentives created by the use of results targets in Britains National Health Service (NHS).
The article refers to a 2006 paper written by Christopher and Gwyn Bevan of LSE, which found that target based performance management always creates gaming (i.e. efforts by staff and managers to ensure they hit targets even if it meant an overall decrease in the quality of services offered).
The article for the Guardian can be read in full here. Christopher and Gwyns 2006 article, Whats measured is what matters: targets and gaming in the English public health care system, can be found here.
