Projects / Programmes
Development of an Efficient and Effective Public Administration System
January 1, 2015
- December 31, 2018
| Code |
Science |
Field |
Subfield |
| 5.04.00 |
Social sciences |
Administrative and organisational sciences |
|
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| S170 |
Social sciences |
Political and administrative sciences |
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| 5.06 |
Social Sciences |
Political science |
public administration reform, administrative systems, the Europeanisation of public administration, local self-government, public sector economics, new public management, neo-Weberian state, new public governance, organisational models of public administration, e-government, information society
Researchers (16)
Organisations (1)
Abstract
The Development of an Efficient and Effective Public Administration System research programme is aimed at studying the contemporary problems and challenges faced by the Slovenian public administration and broader public sector during the gradual emergence from the deep economic crisis. A range of modern methodological tools will be used to analyse one of the most frequently mentioned and pressing problems of modern national economies in this period, i.e. the rationalisation and reorganisation of public sectors. Employing a highly interdisciplinary approach, which is one of the fundamental characteristics of administrative science in general, the research group will conduct research in four essential and closely interconnected fields – i.e. the fields of administrative law, economics, organisation and informatics. The theoretical and empirical development of quantitative and qualitative indicators and metrics for measuring the efficiency and effectiveness of public administration will be built upon by evaluating the existing method for the management of the public administration system and establishing bases for the implementation of new methods for its management and optimisation. A detailed theoretical and empirical analysis of the development of public administration will provide a systematic and comprehensive breakdown of the objectives and priorities in the areas of human resource management, the restructuring of the functions and organisation of the public administration system, administrative processes and e-government, quality management and public finances.
The key research activities carried out as part of the proposed programme for the purpose of identifying an adequate model for the management of public administration and the public sector will thus comprise preparing the scientific bases required to develop public administration models, evaluating the operation and implementing reforms of the selected segments of the broader public sector and identifying and proposing measures, and methods for the implementation thereof, for a better business environment, which can be co-shaped by the public administration system and the broader public sector and would improve Slovenia’s poor international competitiveness. The scientific bases prepared within the programme will enable the development of a new model for the management of public administration patterned after those employed by more advanced countries, the development and implementation of tools and models for reforming the broader public sector and the development and implementation of a model for monitoring the key components of the public administration system that affect Slovenia’s international competitiveness. The research conducted as part of the programme will have both a national and an international dimension, as it will be based on EU directives and strategic documents (e.g. Europe 2020) and good practices of the more advanced countries of the EU and the OECD.
Significance for science
The programme group’s scientific research is focused on administrative science, which is highly interdisciplinary since it encompasses research in the fields of administrative law, economics, organisation and informatics. The studies conducted so far have involved the development of quantitative and qualitative indicators and metrics for measuring the effects of public policies and the optimisation of the public sector. The members of the programme group publish the results of their work in indexed scientific journals and have gained the recognition of the international scientific community, as evidenced by the numerous citations of their works in the WOS and Scopus databases. By issuing articles and independent scientific monographs, both in Slovenia and internationally, they further contribute to the development of the science and strengthen their position within the international scientific community.
The following research period is also designed so that the scientific research results will contribute to the development of these fields. As administrative science has not always made sufficient progress in Slovenia in the past few decades, it is vital to conduct fundamental and applicative research on public administration and international comparative studies and to network in both the European and the wider international environment. Administrative science is certainly regarded as an important field in international academic circles and is topical and pervasive in this period of lean government, the modernisation of public administration and the development of new paradigms for the management of administrative institutions. The programme group will thus focus even more on coherent interdisciplinary research in all the research areas set out above. We intend to present the expected results at key international science conferences and publish them in high-impact international journals in the fields of administrative science, administrative law, economics, organisation and informatics. We also intend to publish the findings of the scientific research as part of scientific monographs or as independent scientific monographs, preferably published by a renowned foreign publisher.
Significance for the country
Like most countries in these times of crisis, Slovenia has been faced with the need to rationalise and reorganise the public administration system and the broader public sector and improve their efficiency, effectiveness and operation. We are encouraged to pursue this goal by the EU with its strategic documents (Europe 2020) and legislation, as well as by the directives of various international organisations (OECD, the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank). Having an efficient public administration system has even been singled out as one of the key requirements to achieve the objectives set out in the draft of Slovenia’s Development Strategy (2014–2020). The key problems of the Slovenian public sector are its inefficiency, excessive bureaucracy, inadequate personal responsibility, lack of openness and transparency, the absence of credible policies and a performance-based reward system. All of this largely results from the lack of proper quantitative and qualitative instruments that could be used to improve management and monitor and evaluate the effects of the operation of the public sector at the national level or lower administrative levels, e.g. at the level of individual ministries, individual public administration sectors, such as state administration, healthcare, education and social welfare, or at the level of individual public organisations. We have found that there has been insufficient comparative research and in-depth horizontal and sectoral research conducted in Slovenia, which would greatly improve the further process of the modernisation of the public administration system and the public sector, which in the past was mainly the subject of political projects that did not require scientific bases for decision-making. We will thus evaluate the existing models and develop new model(s) for the management and operation of the public sector as part of the project, which, in accordance with European and national legislative frameworks, will have a positive impact on the efficiency and effectiveness of public administration and consequently improve the competitiveness of our national economy. International data has shown that Slovenia’s low position in various competitiveness rankings (IMD, WEF) is partly attributable to the inefficient management and operation of the public administration system. The results of the research programme will also provide an essential basis for the preparation of an urgently required strategy for the modernisation of the Slovenian public administration system, which has been lacking for almost a decade. Finally, the results produced by the research group will also have a significant impact on the development of the field and the education of personnel in the public administration system and the broader public sector, as the group operates within the university and all its members participate in the teaching process at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels.
Most important scientific results
Annual report
2015,
2016,
2017,
final report
Most important socioeconomically and culturally relevant results
Annual report
2015,
2016,
2017,
final report
