(Civil service; 03-03; p.5)

Changing processes

To raise the efficiency of processes, the commission suggests to model structures in line with tasks and not vice versa. Therefore, it is necessary to establish agreements on measurable aims that can be achieved with budgets laid down in advance. The degree of performance has to be controlled afterwards and has to effect the fluent component of employees.

Thus the following self-regulating circle would be introduced: an input given by the government is processed by the civil service on widely self-determined terms and can be analysed by the government in respect to a so conditioned output and if needed re-adjusted for a further turn.

Such a concept has to be made applicable, i.e. the employees have to be enabled to fulfil the tasks given to them.
Apart from specific training the commission suggests - within the limits of the new kind of contracts - to appoint jobs according to a different pattern: "Leading positions are exclusively to be filled ... on the basis of a clear and detailed profile of requirements and competence. Patronage within authorities and other political influences must be averted. The positions are to be announced broadly on principle ... if possible even outside the civil service. [...] Wrong decisions in respect to appointments have to become reversible more easily ... ." (Translated; ibid., p. 17f.)

By naming especially political influence as problem, the commission at least strengthens the impression that this is not a fringe phenomenon. It would be another hint on the excesses of the "parties' state", a term coined by the political scientists Kurt Sontheimer and Wilhelm Bleek for Germany.
Besides, to optimise processes, their re-adjustment must be enabled: that implies appointing leading positions only for a specified period.

 

Whether or not the suggestions of the commission will be discussed in following discussions about necessary changes in the civil service, remains to be seen.
Budgetary problems of the state thereby will not vanish, but may well be reduced. The indeed alarming finding that the civil service does only pay little attention to the effects of its activities, may be overcome as well.

(end of article)