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Private Sector Ethics: The Key to Reviving Trust in Government?

No Author — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 19:21:00 EST

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Alexandru V. Roman

Social science scholars have long suggested that trust in market dynamics and governments are indispensable dimensions of successful governance. According to multiple recent public polls, given the current economic condition and recent corporate and political shortfall, citizens� trust in government is approaching or exceeding all time lows. In his 2011 book The Price of Civilization: Reawakening American Virtue and Prosperity, Jeffrey Sachs delineates the decay in social responsibility and the diminishing emphasis on morality of the past five decades as the common denominator behind the current political and economic struggles. According to scholars such as Sachs, it is impossible to solve current economic, political and global challenges without restoring trust in governance and public administration. I believe that accomplishing the latter, however, might be unfeasible without an emphasis on ethics in the private sector and a reevaluation of what currently is primarily a moral-free market narrative. There are several reasons that have led to this ironic interdependence between trust in government and private sector ethics.

Haiti: A Glimmer of Hope?

No Author — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 08:19:00 EST

Bill Miller

What a difference two years make. On January 12, 2010, the world was horrified to witness the aftermath of the devastating 7.0 earthquake that decimated Port-au-Prince, Haiti, and killed over 200,000, maimed thousands, dispossessed over 1.3 million and caused losses of approximately $7 billion, which is 120 percent of Haiti's 2009 gross domestic product (GDP).
For a brief period, media from all over the world chronicled and documented the human and physical devastation. When the 'CNN Effect' ended, Haiti was no longer in the spotlight.

During this two year-plus interim, a multitude of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and United Nations (U.N.) agencies�in tandem with many governments and private sector groups�stayed involved and lent a hand to help Haiti re-build. Although considerable progress has been made, there are still monumental challenges that will extend well into the future.

Work in the Gap, Governments in Service to Underserved Populations

Joe Sarcone — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 08:18:00 EST

Joe Sarcone

Somewhere between our mission and the work that we do everyday rests the plight of the underserved. How can this gap exist? More often than not our organization�s mission defines the extent of our public service. At the core of our service lie the laws, regulations and policies that decide our work day to day. Even though there is intent at the core to serve all equally according to our mission this doesn�t always happen. Moreover the unaddressed issues of the underserved in the gap do not necessarily resolve themselves of their own accord. Instead they come back to the attention of government in the most unexpected and costly ways.

Reliance on Natural Resources for Public Finance Brings Risk, Even if Irresistible

No Author — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 09:47:00 EST

Kenyatta Lovett, Constance Eneh, Meg Streams

The Nigerian fuel subsidy and its withdrawal. Ironically, although the world�s eighth largest oil producer, Nigeria is still importing fuel for domestic use 52 years after its independence: 90 percent of petroleum products used inside the country are imported, according to the African Development Bank Group�s 2011 African Economic Outlook. The same report notes that the country�s main source of revenue is oil and gas, accounting for nearly all export earnings and almost two-thirds of government revenue. Despite these assets, Nigeria has been importing fuel for decades due to the gradual collapse of its own refining capacity. The fuel has then been sold at a substantially subsidized price inside the country; the gas is vital not only for transportation but also for powering generators, given problems with the electrical grid.

Greece: Towards a New Administrative Solidarity, Part 2

No Author — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 22:35:00 EST

This article is the second of a two-part posting.

Panagiotis Karkatsoulis

Taking into account the previously-mentioned remarks, no significant change in the administrative reform policy is expected to take place in 2012: The horizontal cuts will be continued and consequently the public sector�s core functions won�t be carried out properly.

As a countermeasure to that grim prospect, a recovery plan must be agreed upon by major stakeholders, including at least:

1. Measures to strengthen the administrative professionalism, mainly the following:

A drastic reduction, by at least 50 percent, of the political appointees, of the posts of Deputy Ministers, Vice-Ministers, General and Special Secretaries, political advisers and other staff employed through political channels: 16 Ministers, 21 Vice Ministers and 9 Deputy Ministers, 75 General and Special Secretaries and 1080 political advisers just for the central government. Adding the 325 municipalities and 23000 legal entities, the number of political appointees is considerably higher.
A change of the status of the Secretaries General of the Ministries from politically appointed to selected among qualified professionals for a certain period of time (managers)

Greece: Towards a New Administrative Solidarity, Part 1

No Author — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 08:42:00 EST

This article is the first of a two-part posting. Watch for Part 2 to be posted this Thursday, January 26th.

Panagiotis Karkatsoulis

The future of the Greek state seems, at first glance, mortgaged; a series of problems justifies this ominous prediction. The most important, in order of priority:

A) The many years of resistance to the reform of the State, including the period of the Economic Adjustment Programme. The failure to adapt to international and national rapid developments in the economy, technology and current risks, places the Greek state in the chorus of states with high operating costs, low efficiency and significant corruption.

B) The pseudo-reforms (i.e., the reforms that were announced but never implemented) due to clientelistic strategies and the promotion of vested interests. As a result of the �fake� reforms, the credibility of the Greek political system was undermined, on a European and international level, and the already severely weakened trust of the public employees towards their political leaders was withdrawn.

What is the Future of the Public Sector in Greece? Part 2

No Author — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 06:32:00 EST

This article is the second of a two-part posting. To read part one, see the Related Articles box below for a link.

Arie Halachmi

The changes that are needed to address each of these items necessitate the creation of new staff units at the central government level with corresponding counter-part units at the ministerial level. Eventually, similar units would have to be established at the provincial and local levels commensurate with their unique circumstances. Learning from the experiences of governments in other countries Greece should make better use of the resources that are available to it from the academia and corporate research entities.

In the January 2012 issue of Governance two British authorities on public sector management describe a global trend toward greater austerity when it comes to the business of government. The article notes that in many countries the salaries and pensions of public employees have been slashed. Agencies have been downsized and new measures were taken to freeze or reduce the hiring of new employees. There is no doubt that the foreign entities that were involved in assisting Greece to address its financial woes expect it to follow suit. The Hellenic government, under any leadership, is expected to demonstrate in a tangible way the use of austerity measures that are similar to those that have been taken by other countries around the world and in particular by those in Europe. Taking such measures is not intended to penalize public employees in Greece.

What is the Future of the Public Sector in Greece? Part 1

No Author — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 09:57:00 EST

This article is the first of a two-part posting. Watch for Part 2 to be posted this Thursday, January 19th.

Arie Halachmi

In order to discuss this important question in a serious manner one must be able to assess the challenges facing Greece at the present. Put differently, one must be able to define the issues and factors that make up the reality any Greek Prime Minister, regardless of party affiliation, must face as he or she try to move the country forward. One of the most pressing issues is the economy and one of the leading factors is the unavoidable foreign scrutiny of everything that is being done by the government in terms of managing fiscal affairs and government performance. Unfortunately, no Greek leader can afford to overlook these two nor do they have too many choices about dealing with them. Like it or not, the implication of this observation is that past structure and performance level of the public sector cannot be used as a basis for designing the future of the public sector. It should be noted here that portraying the Greek reality in this way is not a judgment of the dedication or talent of government employees as a group. Rather, it is a sober realization that the country cannot support anymore the size of the government apparatus or the scope of its services and programs as we have known them until now.

Opa! It's a Lifestyle and Workstyle, Part 2

No Author — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 08:18:00 EST

HAPPY NEW YEAR! In the spirit of starting 2012 with a fresh and positive outlook for both work and life, we at PA TIMES Online felt the following 2-part article to be particularly appropriate. The authors will also be presenting a session on their inspired philosophy during the National Conference of the American Society for Public Administration (ASPA) to be held in Las Vegas, NV, March 2-6, 2012.

Elaine Dundon and Alex Pattakos

Opa! Indeed, it is much more than simply a word; it is a lifestyle and a workstyle! Against this backdrop, let�s review briefly each element of this inspirational philosophy of living and working:

Others
Most of us are striving to connect in more meaningful ways to build stronger relationships with family member, friends, coworkers, customers, and other members of society. Our research focused on the interconnectedness of life in the traditional Greek villages. The lessons from this research are applicable to how we interact and build authentic relationships in both our personal and work lives. The focus of life in the village is on the collective �we�; caring for and sharing with others for the collective good. How many of us can truly say we treat our workplaces like traditional village communities?

Opa! It's a Lifestyle and Workstyle, Part 1

No Author — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 09:21:00 EST

HAPPY NEW YEAR! In the spirit of starting 2012 with a fresh and positive outlook for both work and life, we at PA TIMES Online felt the following 2-part article to be particularly appropriate. The authors will also be presenting a session on their inspired philosophy during the National Conference of the American Society for Public Administration (ASPA) to be held in Las Vegas, NV, March 2-6, 2012.

Elaine Dundon, Alex Pattakos

Over the years, we have been advising individuals and leaders in all walks of life and in many of the world�s leading organizations in the areas of Innovation and Meaning. A few years ago we noticed that something was changing. People told us that they were losing enthusiasm and meaning in both their personal and work lives. Many felt they were just rushing through life; just going through the motions. Many felt that their work lacked meaning, that the products and services they were offering lacked meaning, and that, increasingly, they felt that they weren�t making a positive difference in the world around them.

Constructive Dissent: USA on a Threshold

No Author — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 08:45:00 EST

Margaret Gangte

The American political system in the last several decades nurtured a system where the bubbles seen over the years have exploded on Wall Street recently. The accumulated grievance borne from the system would seem now to be difficult to be redressed through the usual political system. In other words, to redress the problem would need more drastic change than mere advocacy for reforms on the superstructure, without overhauling the system to benefit everyone on the national wealth.

Why it is Amazing that Public Servants can Administrate at All, Part 2

No Author — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 10:16:00 EST

This article is the second in a two-part series. To read last week's article, click the link in the Related Articles box below. If you would like to submit an article to PA TIMES Online, contact Editor Christine Jewett McCrehin at cjewett@aspanet.org.

Alexandru V. Roman

The Hypocrisy of Expectations
In terms of dealing with inherent tensions that are present in public administration�public servants receive little practical help from academics. The gap between theory and practice has grown wider in the last decade. This should not come as a shock to anyone. A major reason for the divorce between practice and theory is the inability of the latter to �make up its mind� in terms of mixing efficiency (bureaucracy) and democracy.

Why it is Amazing that Public Servants can Administrate at All

No Author — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 08:45:00 EST

This article is the first in a two-part series. Watch next Monday, November 21, 2011, for the second piece.

Alexandru V. Roman

The last decade can be easily characterized as an administrative nightmare both at the local and the federal levels. Looking back there was always a state of crisis or emergency. The September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, the 2001 recession, Storm Allison in 2001, hurricanes Ivan, Charley and Frances in 2004 and Katrina and Rita in 2005, California wildfires and the Mississippi bridge collapse in 2007, hurricane Ike and the Tuesday tornado outbreak in 2008, the 2007-2009 Financial Crisis and the Great Recession, the Arkansas floods in 2010, and the April tornadoes and Spring flooding in 2011�are just some of the events that have put pressure on administration and emergency response in particular. However, it appears that regardless of their response, it is now the norm for federal and local administrations and emergency response agencies to be held at fault for most of the losses associated with such events or crises.

Wisconsin Politics May Foreshadow New Trends: Is American Public Administration Changing?

No Author — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 06:43:00 EST

Mordecai Lee

If states are the American laboratories of democracy, then I have seen the future and it may not be welcome by our field. Ever since Governor Scott Walker proposed legislation severely limiting public sector collective bargaining in February, Wisconsin�s politics have seen upheavals and changes that are unprecedented in modern times. While these events have played out in the electoral and political realm, I suggest they are likely to have major impacts on public administration.

The Heart Says 'Yes' the Mind Says 'No' to the Palestinian Statehood Bid, Part 3

No Author — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 08:36:00 EST

This is Part 3 of a 3 part series. To read Parts 1 and 2, click the links below in the Related Articles box.

Summary of last week's article: Last week Gangte discussed criteria and barriers to statehood for Palestine.

Margaret Gangte

Nation to be ruined under dictatorship: Middle-east is a special place on earth with special problems. The convergent point of both theorists and practitioners is on development and governance which largely depends on leadership. The role of development leadership is undeniably critical to attaining peace and vice versa. Palestine needs peace but the key question is: will peace and development be possible, under the circumstances detailed in my previous articles, with leadership like Hamas and the like?

The Heart Says 'Yes' the Mind Says 'No' to the Palestinian Statehood Bid, Part 2

No Author — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 08:41:00 EST

This is Part 2 of a 3 part series. Watch for Part 3 next Monday, October 10, 2011. To read last week's article, click the link below in the Related Articles box.

Summary of last week's article: Last week Gangte examined the issues surrounding international, Palestinian and Israeli support for Palestine's statehood bid, as well as the legality of any U.N. intervention.

Margaret Gangte

Nation without unitary territorial boundary: For a territory to be recognized as a sovereign nation, it must have primarily, a well defined territorial boundary with international borders. West Bank flanked by Jordon and Gaza so far located at the other end of the sea coast within Israel do not share a unitary territorial boundary to qualify statehood status especially for administrative reason for a nation to execute its governance. Most importantly, this arrangement projects a very high risk for future conflict on boundary issue. The geographic location of being locked between two nations is bound to produce conflict with Israel (its target enemy and not Jordon) with concomitants effects such as illegal immigration, trespassing and encroachments as experienced with Bangladesh and Pakistan by India.

The Heart Says 'Yes' the Mind Says 'No' to the Palestinian Statehood Bid, Part 1

No Author — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 08:00:00 EST

This is Part 1 of a 3 part series. Watch for Part 2 next Monday, October 3, 2011.

Margaret Gangte

Reality check on international support: BBC News for Middle East dated September 16, 2011, released a poll, conducted by GlobeScan, of 20,446 citizens in 19 countries to test public opinion on Palestinian statehood; it announced 49 percent positive response and 21 percent negative response with the remaining as not responding. Although interesting, the poll does not constitute world public opinion by any definition, not to mention it would be rather absurd to determine status of nationality through a public opinion poll.

The Power of Public Service

No Author — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 09:47:00 EST

Originally published on ASPA�s website in September 2001, the authors have updated their powerful, heartfelt reaction to the events of that tragic day�

Janet, Bob Denhardt

Though it�s been 10 years, we remember well the tragic events of September 11, 2001. As we look back on that day, we recognize that we initially went through a period of disbelief, unable to process and accept what we were seeing over and over on the television screen. The scenes were baffling at first and though we found ourselves watching them repeatedly, we didn�t really comprehend what was happening. Later in the day, the tragedy began to become more personal�names and faces began to replace the surreal images that seemed almost impossible in their horror. As that happened, grief and sorrow for the people whose lives were ended in a fury of violence and hatred began to well up inside. We cried.

Survey Shows Partnerships are Key for a Disaster Resilient University, Part 2

No Author — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 19:21:00 EST

This is part 2 of a 2 part series. To read part 1, click on the link in the 'Related Articles' box below. To comment on this article, click on the 'Post A Comment' link below.

Sana Khosa

A comparison with other universities and their progress provided UCF a roadmap of where its emergency management plans and systems were and what UCF needed to achieve and improve during the course of the federally funded project. The detailed survey results are insightful and can be accessed and viewed in their entirety on the website for the Center for Public and Nonprofit Management under the resources section.

Survey Shows Partnerships are Key for a Disaster Resilient University, Part 1

No Author — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 20:29:00 EST

This is Part 1 of a 2 part series. Watch for Part 2 next Monday, August 29, 2011.

Sana Khosa

Recent disasters in the U.S. have revealed that emergency plans are insignificant if communities do not invest in capacity-building activities such as developing sustainable community partnerships that help to prepare for disasters, mitigate threats and strengthen the understanding and execution of disaster plans.