scholarly journals Public administration reform in Central African countries: The way forward.

2015 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. 344-353
Author(s):  
Muhiya Tshombe Lukamba
Keyword(s):  
Public Sector ◽  
Public Administration ◽  
Democratic Republic ◽  
Central Africa ◽  
Public Sector Reform ◽  
Sector Reform ◽  
Republic Of Congo ◽  
Government Institutions ◽  
Public Administration Reform ◽  
The Government

The paper observes the transformation of the political system from a single political to a multi-political party. The essence of this transformation was to accommodate another political culture within the system of governance in the country. This article analyses public sector administration reform in three countries of the Central Africa Region (Republic of Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo, and Republic of Congo. This paper will endeavor to respond to the following question: Why public sector reform in these three countries? Furthermore, the paper will also attempt to validate the need for public sector reform which should be undertaken when the government realises that there is a problem which needs to be resolved in the government institutions. The methodology used in this paper is solely based on the qualitative research approach which will help to understand the applicability of public administration reform in the Central Africa Region. The paper will argue that reform is extremely slow paced in each country. The situation in Cameroon is very complex due to decentralisation being legislated in 2004. However, there have been challenges with the implementation of the legislation governing decentralisation. The State President has personally appointed the majority of the governors and senior government officials in the various provinces. Since the new ministry in the Cameroon presidency assumed accountable public procurement, the ‘other’ reforms have been implemented and meeting the needs of the communities. The reform in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) also represents its own difficulties. Despite the enactment of the constitution in 2006, there is a distinct lack of reform in the public service. One of the key reforms for the current government is the decentralisation of government institutions. However, local government elections have not been held since 2006. Consequently, reformation has been extremely slow paced with limited reform in the last 8 years. The delegation of absolute autonomy to the provincial government with regard to the management of the provinces was a bold act by the DRC government which was well received by the citizens. In terms of public finance, central government has been faced by numerous challenges especially with the release of the provincial budget. Reformation in Congo Brazzaville has encountered many difficulties because of the lack of qualified human capital in the government institutions. Another critical factor which has contributed towards reformation is the authoritarian system of government. One can infer that a democratically elected regime could contribute positively towards a transformed society in all the above-mentioned countries.

scholarly journals The History of and Prospects for Public Sector Reforms in Sri Lanka

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Ranjanee Kusumsiri De Alwis
Keyword(s):  
Public Sector ◽  
Sri Lanka ◽  
Public Administration ◽  
Current Situation ◽  
Administrative Reform ◽  
Public Sector Reform ◽  
Sector Reform ◽  
Administration System ◽  
History Of ◽  
Service Commission

<p>Public sector(1) reform is about improving the management of the public sector. Such reform has no universal framework. What can be done in any country is a product of its history, structure and culture. Moreover, public sector reform is not simply simple 'technical' change. It depends upon, and actually comprises reform of a nation's political system. The main focus of this thesis is administrative reform in Sri Lanka (SL). The key research question is why this has encountered so many problems in the SL public administration system despite many attempts at reform since 1950. And, why and how have key historical, structural, sociological economic and political factors since Independence contributed to this current impasse? Answers to key questions investigated were sought through qualitative and quantitative research. Using a combination of official documents and interviews with senior political elites, public officials and academics, this thesis analyses the current situation of public administration in SL. In order to better understand the current situation, the history of public administrative reform in SL is investigated. The focus of the analysis lies in understanding the complexity and specificity of the present situation in order to better assess prospects for future reforms. This provides a backdrop to effective future agendas and highlights issues in the present system that must be addressed within that agenda. In this process this thesis examines when, how and why administrative reforms took place in SL since the 1950s, which political parties were in power, and who gained and lost due to reforms. The, Administrative Reform Committee Reports (ARC) of 1986/88 are central to this analysis because they made comprehensive recommendations on all aspects of administrative reform. The experience of the ARC carries valuable lessons to administrative reformers. Because this thesis is exploring historical and political questions, the Pollitt and Bouckaert model of public management, which focuses on historical institutionalism, is used as the theoretical framework. This thesis finds that all reforms in SL from 1950-2005 were isolated, ad hoc, and reactive to crisis situations, not proactive. On many occasions such changes lacked adequate examination as to their effects on the administrative system as a whole. This further resulted in more problems and even greater complexity, with the ARC recommendations not fully implemented. This thesis analyses underlying factors responsible for thwarting efforts to create an effective and efficient public administration system in SL. The originality and significance of this thesis lies in two areas: (a) it is the first systematic historical analysis of public sector reform in SL that pulls together a wide range of evidence from divers sources; (b) this thesis confirms the importance of understanding the history and political dynamics of a country before serious and wholesale attempts at public sector reform are attempted. I hope that future SL reformers will be able to learn the lessons of history in that respect. This thesis concludes that this state of affairs remains a product of complex interactions of many different historical, social, political, and cultural conditions. Therefore, this thesis argues, any future programme of reform must take full account of those specifics.  (1) Public sector includes : Government and the Organs of State (Organs of State includes Presidential Secretariat, Legislature, Public Service Commission, Police Service Commission, Commission to Investigate Allegation of Bribery and Corruption, Attorney General Department, Auditor General Department, Finance Commission and Salaries and Cadre Commission) and Public Enterprises.</p>

scholarly journals Emerging Issues in Public Sector Reforms in Africa: An Assessment of Ghana and Nigeria

2015 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 95 ◽  
Author(s):  
Salami Issa Afegbua ◽  
Ganiyu L. Ejalonibu
Keyword(s):  
Public Sector ◽  
Public Administration ◽  
Public Service ◽  
West African ◽  
Public Sector Reform ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Sector Reform ◽  
The Public ◽  
Public Sector Reforms ◽  
Emerging Issues

Public sector reform (PSR) has been quite popular in Africa and in recent years, several African countries have implemented far-reaching governance and public service reform measures. The aim of this article is to consider the historical development of Public Sector Reform in Africa and the philosophy behind the ubiquitous wave of reform in the continent. The article discovers that those reform measures have so far gone through three different phases to promote and/or accelerate the revitalization of the public service. It identifies some major challenges that account for the monumental failure of PSR. Finally, the paper offers suggestions on how African countries can free themselves from the doldrums of current PSR. This article will not only broaden the frontier of knowledge in the field of public administration but also address the present and on-going reality of public sector reforms in the West African sub region. This study uses a ‘Literature Survey’ in examining the issue in question.

Service, Security, Transparency & Trust

2011 ◽  
pp. 3354-3370
Author(s):  
Jeffrey Roy
Keyword(s):  
Public Sector ◽  
Critical Assessment ◽  
Electronic Government ◽  
Future Prospects ◽  
Public Sector Reform ◽  
Sector Reform ◽  
The Government ◽  
Government Of Canada

The objectives of this article are twofold: first, to examine the main conceptual dimensions of electronic government (e-government); and secondly, to critically assess both the current responses and future prospects of Canada’s public sector. The first sections of the paper are primarily conceptual as they delve into e-government’s meaning and scope by presenting a set of major thematic challenges driving public sector reform. The paper then provides a critical assessment of recent reforms and new initiatives undertaken by the Government of Canada. Building on this analysis, the article aims to sketch out the major issues and challenges likely to confront Canadian governance. Of particular interest is whether or not a sufficient balance exists in focusing on dimensions of e-government and e-governance in order to adapt effectively to a more informational, digital, and interdependent world.

Service, Security, Transparency and Trust

2008 ◽  
pp. 314-335 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeffrey Roy
Keyword(s):  
Public Sector ◽  
Critical Assessment ◽  
Electronic Government ◽  
Future Prospects ◽  
Public Sector Reform ◽  
Sector Reform ◽  
The Government ◽  
Government Of Canada

The objectives of this article are twofold: first, to examine the main conceptual dimensions of electronic government (e-government); and secondly, to critically assess both the current responses and future prospects of Canada’s public sector. The first sections of the paper are primarily conceptual as they delve into e-government’s meaning and scope by presenting a set of major thematic challenges driving public sector reform. The paper then provides a critical assessment of recent reforms and new initiatives undertaken by the Government of Canada. Building on this analysis, the article aims to sketch out the major issues and challenges likely to confront Canadian governance. Of particular interest is whether or not a sufficient balance exists in focusing on dimensions of both e-government and e-governance in order to adapt effectively to a more informational, digital and interdependent world.

The Reforming Organization

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nils Brunsson
Keyword(s):  
Public Sector ◽  
Public Administration ◽  
Empirical Data ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Institutional Analysis ◽  
Extensive Literature ◽  
Public Sector Reform ◽  
Sector Reform ◽  
Organizational Reform ◽  
Geographically Dispersed

This chapter discusses the book’s main themes. The book is intended to contribute to the literature on change in general and organizational reform in particular. It is also intended as a contribution to the discussion within the so-called institutional analysis of how and why certain organizational forms are adopted by organizations in a variety of fields and in geographically dispersed areas. This book is based on numerous empirical studies of reforms in companies and in public administration. In addition, it relies upon an extensive literature on public sector reform that has evolved since the 1980s and has produced a great deal of empirical data that speak to the more general literature on reforms. An overview of the subsequent chapters is also presented.

Incentives and Human Resource Management in the Design of Public Sector Reform (Distinguished Lecture)

1999 ◽  
Vol 38 (4I) ◽  
pp. 471-488
Author(s):  
Nadeem Ul Haque
Keyword(s):  
Resource Management ◽  
Public Sector ◽  
Human Resource Management ◽  
Human Resource ◽  
Living Standards ◽  
Public Sector Reform ◽  
Sector Reform ◽  
Poor Countries ◽  
The Government ◽  
Development Approach

THE ‘DEVELOPMENT APPROACH’ TO GOVERNANCE We, in Pakistan, should be very happy that the global development community has finally accepted the centrality of public sector reform (also known as improved governance) in the quest for improved living standards in poor countries. Development economics is a subject that is based on the interpretation and observation of some Western academics and Western donor-based agencies. We should have some sympathy for these leaders of development thought and policy for they have struggled with integrating the prevailing theme (fad) in Western thought and philanthropy with learning about the societies and economies that they were supposed to be prescribing for. Using the principle of “ends justifying the means”, they defend their reliance on the current “fad” as well as on the only clearly visible, organised and powerful actor—the government, no matter how inefficient—they would.

scholarly journals The role of the ‘centre’ in public service reform

2020 ◽  
Vol 68 (4) ◽  
pp. 27-40
Author(s):  
Muiris MacCarthaigh
Keyword(s):  
Public Sector ◽  
Public Administration ◽  
Public Service ◽  
Final Section ◽  
Public Sector Reform ◽  
Sector Reform ◽  
Consistent Feature ◽  
Irish Case ◽  
The 1960S

AbstractAmongst his many interests in public administration, the practical and challenging task of implementing and evaluating public service reform has been a consistent feature of the oeuvre of research over Richard Boyle’s career (cf. Boyle, 2004, 2016; Boyle & Joyce, 1988; Boyle & Lemaire, 1999; Boyle & MacCarthaigh, 2011). In this article, the focus is on the role played by the ‘centre’ in public service reform both conceptually and in practice. The article first considers what is meant by the centre in Irish political– administrative life, before reflecting on how we might understand different forms of public sector reform governance and then applying them to the Irish case. The centre-led reforms that occurred between the 1960s up to the late 2000s are reviewed, before more recent efforts from 2011 up to the present are presented. A final section summarises the contribution.

scholarly journals Searching for the renaissance bureaucrat

2019 ◽  
Vol 33 (1) ◽  
pp. 22-44
Author(s):  
Peter M. Kruyen ◽  
Shelena Keulemans ◽  
Rick T. Borst ◽  
Jan-Kees Helderman
Keyword(s):  
Public Sector ◽  
Public Administration ◽  
Big Five ◽  
Software Tools ◽  
Computer Assisted ◽  
Negative Consequences ◽  
Public Sector Reform ◽  
Sector Reform ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Over Time

Purpose Since the early 1980s, western governments are assumed to have been either moving toward post-bureaucratic models or transforming into so-called neo-Weberian bureaucracies. As different public-sector (reform) models imply different ideal typical personality traits for civil servants, the purpose of this paper is to ask the question to what extent personality requirements that governments demand from their employees have evolved over time in line with these models. Design/methodology/approach The authors analyzed the use of big-five traits in a sample of 21,003 job advertisements for local government jobs published between 1980 and 2017, applying tools for computer-assisted text analysis. Findings Using multilevel regression analyses, the authors conclude that, over time, there is a significant increase in the use of personality descriptors related to all big-five factors. Research limitations/implications The authors postulate that governments nowadays are actively looking for the “renaissance bureaucrat” in line with the neo-Weberian bureaucracy paradigm. The authors end with a discussion of both positive and negative consequences of this development. Originality/value First, the authors explicitly link personality, public administration, and public management using the Abridged Big-Five-Dimensional Circumflex model of personality. Second, by linking observed trends in civil servant personality requirements to larger theories of public-sector reform models, the authors narrow the gap between public administration theories and practice. Third, the software tools that the authors use to digitalize and analyze a large number of documents (the job ads) are new to the discipline of public administration. The research can therefore serve as a guideline for scholars who want to use software tools to study large amounts of unstructured, qualitative data.

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