Identifying and Solving the Real Problems Facing the Integrated Disability Evaluation System (IDES)
Abstract
The Integrated Disability Evaluation System (IDES) represents a significant interagency collaboration between the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the Department of Defense (DoD). Despite significant work on the part of both agencies, their efforts to get the system to meet its timeliness goals have met with limited success. This thesis seeks to identify and solve the real problems facing the IDES by studying three areas of concern: systems, problem formulation, and organizational culture. The thesis uses both qualitative and quantitative tools to analyze these problem areas. The results suggest that the IDES may have been developed without a full appreciation of the complexity of the disability evaluation problem, and with a process-driven focus that reflects organizational cultures that value stability and order. The thesis concludes with ideas for building adaptability into the IDES by clarifying ownership, adapting systems, and improving performance standards.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 14, 2013
- Accession Number
- ADA590856
Entities
People
- Kenneth J. Mortimer
Organizations
- United States Army Command and General Staff College