“New public Management reforms, an empirical study of human resources critical factors, in the context of the Greek Public sector” Item Type Thesis Authors Liveris, Panagiotis D. Download date 02/10/2021 08:30:05 Link to Item http://hdl.handle.net/10545/576013 NEW PUBLIC MANAGEMENT REFORMS AN EMPIRICAL STUDY OF HUMAN RESOURCES CRITICAL FACTORS IN THE CONTEXT OF THE GREEK PUBLIC SECTOR By P.LIVERIS PhD Candidate, University of Derby Abstract This work is an endeavour on the subject of the Critical Success Factors imposed by Human Resources, in the process of reforms, under the context of New Public Management, particularly, as this applies in the Greek Public Sector and more specifically in the cases of ISO implementation. The fundamental issues it attempts to elucidate are the Human Resources policies that must be applied, so that employees become an integral element for the successful implementation of any introduced reforms. Many scholars have pointed out the gap in literature regarding the effect of New Public Management (NPM) reforms on the human factor. Moreover, in the current Greek reality, in the context of the economic recession and the debt crisis, where public administration reforms are mandatory, the thorough examination of the vital issues, pertaining to Human Resources, consists a major priority. The qualitative research method applied with the employees of the reformed organisations has further aspired to ponder and determine what really matters during the transformational process from the employees’ point of view. The conclusions we have reached underpin the importance of Human Resources motivational factors in the reform process, taking into consideration that the employee is the catalyst for any change effort. Some of those factors were found to be also part of the ISO concept per se, thus, their implementation would boost the employees’ morale, while others must be carefully analysed, planned and implemented by all the stakeholders to further facilitate the change process. We have to bear in mind that, especially under the current dire economic environment, quality reforms could be a challenge, as they combine fiscal discipline and at the same time aspire to increase the employees’ and citizens’ satisfaction. This study goes further to suggest that, the implementation of ISO reforms could help all the participants, provided that the decision makers take into serious consideration the Critical Success Factors outlined herewith, that have been extracted from a survey conducted pertinent to our research. This study focused on the reforms/ISO process as implemented by the Intermediate Managing Authority of the Ionian Islands. Further research on the implications from the implementation of NMP doctrines on Human Resources should be conducted in other Greek governmental organisations, in order to reaffirm the results and possibly enhance the suggested model. Conclusively, our ultimate target is to assist decision makers and encourage them to utilise the arguments depicted, towards the successful implementation of NPM doctrines. Abbreviations BSC Balanced Scorecard CAF Common Assessment Framework CCT Compulsory Competitive Tendering CSF Critical Success Factors ECB European Central Bank EFQM European Foundation of Quality Management HRM Human Resources Management GPS Greek Public Sector IAA Independent Administrative Authorities ICT'S Information and Communication Technologies IMF International Monetary Fund KEPE Centre of Planning and Economic Research KYE Investors’ Services Centers MBNQA Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award MBO Management by objectives NHS National Health Service NPM New Public Management NSRF National Strategic Reference Framework Organization for Economic Co-operation and OECD Development PM Performance Measurement PRP Performance Related Payment PS Public Sector ROP The Regional Operational Programme SII Service Improvement Initiative SEO State Own Enterprises SWOT Strengths Weaknesses Opportunities Threats TQM Total Quality Management Acknowledgements I would like to point out that my incentives to embark on this endeavour, other than the academic journey, was also my personal aspiration to help out my country in its attempt to save resources, while providing quality services to its citizens. To that I may add my personal benefit to improve my daily life as a civil servant and that of my colleagues in the public sector. It would not have happened without the support of my family, my heartfelt appreciation goes out to my wife and daughter for their unconditional acceptance and their tolerance of my long absences that this research required. I wish to extend my sincere appreciation to my Professor, Dr. Longbottom for his kindness, patience and unconditional assistance that he extended during the entire process of the thesis. Finally, this endeavour is dedicated in loving memory of my father, who recently passed away. Table of contents List of tables.................................................................................................................. 1 List of figures ................................................................................................................ 3 Chapter 1. Introduction .............................................................................................. 5 1.1 Aims and Objectives ............................................................................................ 5 1.2 Research tools ...................................................................................................... 6 1.3 Outcome ............................................................................................................... 7 1.4 Indicative research questions ............................................................................... 7 1.5 Structure and contents .......................................................................................... 8 Chapter 2. New Public Management Regime.......................................................... 11 2.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................ 11 2.2 New Public Management ................................................................................... 15 2.3 Public Choice Theory ........................................................................................ 17 2.4 Bureaucracy ....................................................................................................... 18 2.5 NPM Characteristics .......................................................................................... 20 2.6 Why NPM? ........................................................................................................ 22 2.7 Globalisation and NPM...................................................................................... 26 2.8 NPM in the United Kingdom and the USA ....................................................... 27 2.9 NPM Results ...................................................................................................... 29 2.10 A success story ................................................................................................. 30 2.11 NPM Doctrines ................................................................................................ 31 2.11.1 Quality reforms ......................................................................................... 32 2.11.1.1 Performance Management ...................................................................... 34 2.11.1.2 Human Resources Management .............................................................. 38 2.11.1.3 E-Government ........................................................................................... 40 2.11.1.4 Leadership ................................................................................................. 42 2.11.1.5 Professionalism. ........................................................................................ 43 2.12 Conclusion ....................................................................................................... 43 Chapter 3.The Greek Public Sector ......................................................................... 45 3.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................ 45 3.2 The debt crisis .................................................................................................... 46 3.3 Greek public sector characteristics. ................................................................... 47 3.3.1 The size of public sector ............................................................................. 47 3.3.2 Demographics ............................................................................................. 48 3.3.3 The permanence status of public servants. ................................................. 48 3.3.4 Training ....................................................................................................... 49 3.3.5 Reorganisation ............................................................................................ 50 3.3.6 The executive elite ...................................................................................... 51 3.3.7 Corruption ................................................................................................... 52 3.3.8 Performance management ........................................................................... 52 3.3.9 Bureaucracy and excessive legal formalism ..............................................