Challenges in public administration, good practices in OECD countries and proposals to innovate the Greek public sector

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to examine the challenges associated with the Public Administration, some good practices that OECD countries conducted in order to improve their Public Sector operations a case study to innovate the Greek Public Administration. This thesis reviews the contribution of innovation in public administration (PA) toward sustainable development and its impact on citizens’ expectations on the performance of the government. Today governments aim to modernize the public administration, to strengthen its capacities and to make it more efficient and accountable. Governments today are using different methods and techniques to find out the citizen’s demands in order to reduce the gap between government and the people and to enhance the public trust as an important factor. The aim of this paper is focused on the review of the new innovative developments on the public administration on the frame of the challenges and process of globalization and its impact on citizens’ expectations. Today citizens are more or less satisfied with innovations in public administration, however, it is a necessity to regularly asses the achievements related to further innovations and their ability to effect the citizens life and enhance their expectations. The research methods of this thesis refer to a qualitative research design which was applied in order to achieve the primary aim of this study. Data collection techniques, that were utilized to collect information, comprised interviews and document analysis. A group of fifty-eight purposively selected participants, namely civil servants were chosen for interviews. Data that was obtained was analysed through qualitative content analysis. The major findings of the study indicate that the Greek Public Administration, in which the last part of the thesis focuses on, needs in any way the innovation as a part of daily life and operation since as a member of OECD should follow the example of other member states and try to foster innovation and development in Public Sector. The study found that although in Greece the institutional framework is somehow still incapable of supporting innovative projects and though the funding is not enough to implement such ideas, the majority of civil servants are more than willing to support the Greek Public Sector innovation while financial incentives can play an important role in promoting innovation in the public sector. To sum it all up public administration is one of the main tools through which the relationship between the state, civil society and the private sector is realized. In this regard supporting public administration innovations enables achieving higher development objectives in particular economic advantages, poverty reduction, harmony and institutional stability. Therefore, this thesis pretends to provide an active approach of research and studies that might give a concrete contribution on the way toward further innovations in public administration and enhance the citizens’ expectations.