Accountability is a process that entails constant improvement through data-driven decision-making whose outcome is continuous inter-partner communication and transparency for results. However, among political and bureaucratic functionaries in Tennessee, the absence of accountability leads to inefficiency in public administration, leading to several stakeholders being caught up in different scandals. Among the ways political and bureaucratic functionaries can be accountable is by prioritizing those at the top of the hierarchy. For leaders to achieve this, they must establish and ensure accountability in political and bureaucratic systems towards organizing and legitimizing principal-agent relationships that act by following commands without questions (Milakovich & Gordon, 2012). Moreover, as shown by Strauss and Cropsey (1987), the Tennessee leadership must implement a strict performance management system for a standardized operation procedure. Public administrators must also ensure that administrative rules, strategies, performance management, or budget reviews are effectively implemented to account for the actions of Tennessee’s politicians and bureaucrats.
Further, the Tennessee leadership must enforce ethical policies and regulations to deter any public official from making unethical decisions. With such policies in place, every politician and bureaucrat will understand that the government will not tolerate corrupt activities and that every lost money will be recouped (Milakovich & Gordon, 2012). With Tennessee leadership understanding that administrative rules support whistleblowing, they will realize that the public will question every action they engage in. Their unethical behavior will lead to public scrutiny for information to be disclosed. Therefore, under the direction of the government, Tennessee state should implement a proper mechanism that enables the people to come out and report their politicians for any unethical conduct (Shafritz & Hyde, 2016). Further, the mechanism must protect against any adverse effects attributed to whistleblowing.
References
Milakovich, M. E., & Gordon, G. J. (2012). Public Administration in America (11th ed.). Cengage Learning US. Web.
Shafritz, J. M., & Hyde, A. C. (2016). Classics of Public Administration (8th ed.). Cengage Learning US. Web.
Strauss, L. & Cropsey, J. (1987). History of political philosophy (3rd ed.). University of Chicago Press.