The Profile and Work of Officials in Central and Regional Administration Compared: The Case of the Czech Republic

被引:9
作者
Vesely, Arnost [1 ]
机构
[1] Charles Univ Prague, Fac Social Sci, Inst Sociol Studies, Prague, Czech Republic
关键词
Ministries; regional offices; policy analysis; policy work; sample survey; Czech Republic;
D O I
10.2478/nispa-2014-0002
中图分类号
C93 [管理学]; D035 [国家行政管理]; D523 [行政管理]; D63 [国家行政管理];
学科分类号
12 ; 1201 ; 1202 ; 120202 ; 1204 ; 120401 ;
摘要
This paper examines the profiles and work tasks of officials in central and regional administration in the Czech Republic. It analyzes data from surveys among the officials of eleven ministries in 2013 (N = 1351) and fourteen regional offices in 2012 (N = 783). First, the profile of ministerial officials (MOs) is compared with that of regional-level officials (ROs). In accordance with our hypotheses, on average it is found that MOs are, when compared to ROs, older, more educated and have spent more time in civil service. There is also a higher proportion of men in ministries than in regional offices. On the other hand, ministerial work seems to be affected by higher levels of fluctuation than jobs in the regional offices. Second, we compare work tasks of MOs and ROs. As expected, MOs are more involved in analytical tasks and research than ROs. In contrast, ROs are more likely to implement policies or programs, direct and monitor programs or lower-level bodies, provide advice for political bodies of the region, negotiate with elected politicians, communicate with citizens and provide methodological guidance, train or lecture. Contrary to our theoretical expectations, we found a strong positive correlation between analytical and brokering tasks (communication and negotiation). We thus reject the hypothesis that analytical tasks are at odds with negotiating and communication. Instead, it is concluded that most officials are multitaskers, and it is especially so in regional offices. It is hypothesized that this might be caused by the fact that regional offices are smaller and have a lower capacity to specialize.
引用
收藏
页码:107 / 128
页数:22
相关论文
共 32 条
[1]  
[Anonymous], 2013, CENTRAL EUROPEAN J P
[2]  
[Anonymous], 2004, MANAGING UNCERTAINTI, DOI DOI 10.4324/9780203643457
[3]   Regional Policy and Decentralization in the Czech Republic [J].
Baun, Michael ;
Marek, Dan .
REGIONAL AND FEDERAL STUDIES, 2006, 16 (04) :409-428
[4]   Public Administration and Management Reforms in CEE: Main Trajectories and Results [J].
Bouckaert, Geert ;
Nakrosis, Vitalis ;
Nemec, Juraj .
NISPACEE JOURNAL OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION AND POLICY, 2011, 4 (01) :9-29
[5]  
Colebatch H., 2006, WORK POLICY INT SURV
[6]  
Colebatch H, 2006, WORK POLICY INT SURV, P217
[7]  
Colebatch HK, 2010, WORKING FOR POLICY, P1, DOI 10.5117/9789089642530
[8]   The dual dynamics of policy advisory systems: The impact of externalization and politicization on policy advice [J].
Craft, Jonathan ;
Howlett, Michael .
POLICY AND SOCIETY, 2013, 32 (03) :187-197
[9]   Interactions and identities of Czech civil servants on their way to the EU [J].
Drulák, P ;
Cesal, J ;
Hampl, S .
JOURNAL OF EUROPEAN PUBLIC POLICY, 2003, 10 (04) :637-654
[10]  
Dunn W.N., 2004, PUBLIC POLICY ANAL I, Vthird