This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Webb, L. Articles by Ryan, T. Search for Related Content Social Bookmarking                         What's this?

Hitting the Target and Missing the Point

Is the United Nations Playing Games with the World's most Vulnerable?

Lucy Webb is a Senior Lecturer in mental health nursing, Division of Professional Registration, Elizabeth Gaskell Campus, Manchester Metropolitan University, Hathersage Road, Manchester, United Kingdom.M13 0JA. E-mail: L.webb{at}mmu.ac.uk

Tony Ryan

Tony Ryan is a Research Consultant in health service management, the Tony Ryan Associates, 26 Sergeants Lane, Whitefield Manchester, M45 7TS, United Kingdom. E-mail: info{at}tonyryan.org

This article examines the policy of using target-setting and measurement to deliver on the United Nations’ (UN) development goals. Using evidence from similar monitoring and management strategies in the United Kingdom (UK), we question the purpose of using process and outcome targets and suggest that this approach can be counter-productive. It can also lead to a situation where maintaining public relations and image is prioritised at the expense of making real impacts on key development issues. While the UN's aims are praiseworthy, we suggest that the somewhat simplistic methodology adopted is damaging to the very people that the UN is seeking to help.

Journal of Health Management, Vol. 11, No. 1, 229-241 (2009)
DOI: 10.1177/097206340901100115


CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter    What's this?