Sylvia Veit

Linking administrative career patterns and politicization: signalling effects in the careers of top civil servants in Germany

This article explores the influence of two types of signalling on the career success of civil servants in the federal ministerial bureaucracy of Germany. Whereas ‘ability signalling’ displays bureaucratic expertise in the sense of both political craft and administrative management competencies, ‘intention signalling’ indicates party politicization. Data are drawn from the biographies of 341 civil servants within the two highest ranks in federal ministries and the chancellery who held office between 2002 and 2013. Taking gender, formal education and career patterns into consideration, we are able to find clear evidence for ‘intention signalling’, whereas ‘ability signalling’ plays only a minor role. Over time, the accelerating effect of ‘intention signalling’ on administrative careers is increasing. Points for practitioners How important is political loyalty for senior civil servants in merit bureaucracies? This article investigates the relationship between the merit principle and politicization in the German federal bureaucracy. By analysing the importance of certain career steps, we find clear evidence for party politicization. Employment in positions that signal party political loyalty accelerates the careers of ministerial officials, even if the data also prove that there is no distinct ‘fast track’ to leading administrative positions in Germany. Moreover, our analysis reveals an under-representation of women in administrative top positions, as well as the continuing dominance of lawyers. Regarding career patterns, considerable differences between state secretaries and directors-general are evident.

Public Service Systems at Subnational and Local Levels of Government: A British-German-French Comparison

The subnational and local levels of government have hitherto been largely understudied in comparative civil service research. Against this background, this chapter focuses on two central questions. First, we analyse whether and how the local public service can be distinguished from the central state/federal level of government and to what extent a ‘local public service system’1 can be identified with specific structures and development patterns. Second, we question to what extent and due to what factors country-specific patterns and structures of local public employment, inherited from the past, have been subjected to major changes and ruptures diluting historically ingrained differences or whether those national peculiarities of local public services have been retained. In order to answer these two compound questions, we primarily draw on ‘qualitative’ approaches and restrict ourselves to three ‘cases’: Germany, France and Great Britain. These countries will be scrutinized and compared with regard to the predominant features and developmental patterns of public employment and human resource management at the local level of government. The case selection is justified here by the fact that these three countries represent important models of European administrative culture and crucial variations of decentralized institution-building and public employment in Western Europe, the analysis of which is essential to comparative public administration in general.

Culture Matters--The Training of Senior Civil Servants in Austria, Germany, the Netherlands and Switzerland.

Senior civil servants (SCS) are powerful actors with great responsibilities in the field of policymaking and management. Due to public sector reforms that are New Public Management oriented, specialised education and structured training programmes for (future) SCS as well as fast-track systems for high-potential employees have become increasingly important in many Western democracies over the last two decades. However, in several middle European countries SCS are hardly ever training participants, and furthermore, training systems have not been subject to larger reform efforts. In this article, the training of SCS in Austria, Germany, the Netherlands and Switzerland is explored, and we discuss how the observable patterns of training policies can be explained. We argue that the existence or lack of desired human resource measures such as fast-track programmes might be explained by the dominant cultural orientations in these countries. In order to systematically address, further analyse and account for observations such as the fast-track example, we apply and explore the potential of grid-group typology, developed by anthropologist Mary Douglas as part of the cultural theory approach.

Sunset Legislation: Theoretical Reflections and International Experiences

The chapter gives an overview about the use of sunset legislation in three countries, namely, USA, Australia, and Germany. Based on theoretical reflections of policy termination and evaluation, the empirical experiences on how sunset legislation can foster different policy goals are analyzed, and in conclusion the possibilities to connect sunset legislation to risk-based decision-making are discussed.

Methoden und Daten zur Erforschung spezieller Organisationen: Öffentliche Verwaltung

Der Beitrag befasst sich mit der offentlichen Verwaltung als Gegenstand der Organisationsforschung. Er umreist die Spezifika dieses Forschungsgegenstandes und diskutiert typische Merkmale und Probleme des Feldzugangs sowie der Datenerhebung in der Verwaltungsforschung. Daruber hinaus werden konkrete Datenbestande und Untersuchungen vorgestellt und zwei besonders verbreitete Untersuchungsverfahren naher erlautert (standardisierte Befragungen und leitfadengestutzte halbstandardisierte Interviews).

Institutional Constraints of Experimental Learning Formats in Professional PA Master Programmes

Abstract Purpose This chapter explores how experimental learning and transfer of learning can be designed in professional Master of Public Administration (MPA) programmes when external conditions constrain the application of learning formats that require the personal contact of students and/or the cooperation of the student’s employer. Design/methodology/approach The authors conduct a single case study of the professional MPA programme at the University of Kassel in Germany. The programme is based on the principles of blended learning with a high share of online teaching. The analysis is based on semi-structured interviews with students, document analysis and practical experience by one of the authors. Findings The study shows that attempts of bridging theory and practice have proved challenging in the past, which has, for instance, resulted in changes of course modules aiming directly at linking both domains. The findings are presented and discussed in the light of three different perspectives: (1) learning outcomes of professional MPAs and the theory-practice-nexus in a systems theory perspective; (2) the impacts of administrative culture; and (3) didactical/micro-level perspective. Furthermore, recommendations for practical purposes are derived. Research limitations/implications The exploratory study does not provide strong generalisable results but aims at enriching the academic discussion as well as points to solutions for the practice. Originality/value Beyond useful insights on how (elements of) experimental learning are or might be implemented in the PA masters’ programme under study, the chapter offers a more generalised discussion of the challenges contextual factors might pose to the implementation of experimental learning formats and discusses possible solutions to overcome such challenges.

Politikberatung im Spannungsfeld zwischen Unabhängigkeit und Relevanz: Der Nationale Normenkontrollrat

Herausgeber/innen: Prof. Dr. Andrea Römmele, Hertie School of Governance, Berlin (Geschäftsführende Herausgeberin), E-Mail: roemmele@hertie-school.org | Dr. Svenja Falk, Accenture Research, Berlin, Germany, E-Mail: svenja.falk@accenture.com | PD Dr. Martin Thunert, Center for American Studies, Universität Heidelberg, E-Mail: mthunert@hca.uni-heidelberg.de Beirat: Prof. Dr. h.c. Roland Berger, Roland Berger Strategy Consultants | Vito Cecere, Auswärtiges Amt | Prof. Dr. Jobst Fiedler, Hertie School of Governance | Prof. Dr. Dietmar Fink, Hochschule Bonn-Rhein-Sieg | Prof. Dr. Justus Haucap, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf | Dr. Christian Humborg, Transparency International Deutschland e.V. | Nikolaus Huss, Politik Kommunikation | Prof. Dr. Dr. Karl-Rudolf Korte, Universität Duisburg-Essen | Prof. Dr. Sabine Kropp, Deutsche Hochschule für Verwaltungswissenschaften Speyer | Prof. Dr. Martin Lendi, Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule Zürich | Prof. Dr. Miriam Meckel, Universität St. Gallen | Prof. Dr. Ferdinand Müller-Rommel, Leuphana Universität Lüneburg | Dr. Leonard Novy, Institut für Medienund Kommunikationspolitik | Cem Özdemir, BÜNDNIS 90/DIE GRÜNEN | Anke Plättner, Westdeutscher Rundfunk | Peter Radunski, MSL Group | PD Dr. Dieter Rehfeld, FH Gelsenkirchen | Prof. Volker Riegger, logos Holding AG | Prof. Dr. Stefan A. Schirm, Ruhr-Universität Bochum | Dr. Rolf Steltemeier, Bundesministerium für wirtschaftliche Zusammenarbeit und Entwicklung | Cornelius Winter, de ́ge ́pol Redaktion: Henrik Schober, M.A. (Chefredakteur) | Andreas Hoffelder, Dipl. Sozwiss. (Stellvertretender Chefredakteur | Yann Lorenz, M.A. | Dirk von Schneidermesser, M.A. Kontakt: Zeitschrift für Politikberatung (ZPB), c/o Henrik Schober, M.A., Hertie School of Governance, Quartier 110, Friedrichstraße 180, 10117 Berlin, Telefon: +49 30 / 25 92 19 338, E-Mail: schober@hertie-school.org

Steuerung von Querschnittspolitik durch das Bundeskanzleramt

Das Bundeskanzleramt ubt in Deutschland bei der Erarbeitung von Regierungspolitiken traditionell vor allem eine koordinierende Funktion aus. Diese Rollenzuschreibung spiegelt sich in der internen Aufbauorganisation des Bundeskanzleramtes in einer streng hierarchischen Gliederung in Abteilungen, Gruppen und (auf die Geschaftsbereiche einzelner Fachressort spezialisierte) Spiegelreferate wider. Projekt- und Strategiegruppen sowie andere Formen flexibler und innovationsorientierter Organisation spielen hingegen nur eine untergeordnete Rolle. Aufgaben der Politikformulierung und -implementation werden in Deutschland also ublicherweise nicht proaktiv durch die Regierungszentrale wahrgenommen, sondern liegen im Zustandigkeitsbereich der Ressorts. Dies gilt nicht nur fur klassische sektorale Politiken wie die Gesundheitspolitik oder die Landwirtschaftspolitik, sondern auch fur die meisten Querschnittspolitiken. Zwar besitzen viele Policies einen mehr oder minder stark ausgepragten Querschnittscharakter, eindeutige Querschnittspolitiken wie zum Beispiel die Haushalts- und Gleichstellungspolitik, aber auch die im Mittelpunkt dieses Beitrags stehende Burokratieabbaupolitik, sind jedoch dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass deren Implementation (und damit deren Erfolg) in besonders hohem Mase davon abhangt, ob es gelingt, sie dauerhaft in alle anderen Politikfelder zu integrieren.

Verwaltungspolitik auf Bundesebene – eine Bilanz der Großen Koalition

Im Unterschied zu Fragen der Arbeitsmarkt-, Wirtschafts- und Gesundheitspolitik, die von Politikern und Verwaltungsfachleuten, Parteien, Verbanden, Stiftungen, Wissenschaftlern und Burgern intensiv diskutiert werden, findet ein Diskurs uber konkrete Inhalte der Verwaltungspolitik meist nur in Expertenzirkeln statt. Verwaltungspolitische Themen gelangen zwar gelegentlich auf die politische und mediale Agenda, wenn sie eng an Reformen in anderen Politikfeldern geknupft sind (z.B. Umbau der Bundesanstalt in eine Bundesagentur fur Arbeit), einen unmittelbaren Burger- oder Unternehmensbezug aufweisen (z.B. Innovationsregionen) oder aber wenn Verfehlungen der Verwaltung angeprangert werden (z.B. Debatte um die Kontrolltatigkeit der Bundesanstalt fur Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht im Zuge der Finanzmarktkrise). Die allermeisten verwaltungspolitischen Masnahmen werden jedoch unbeachtet von der Offentlichkeit, sogar vielfach unbeachtet von der politischen Elite, ‚von Burokraten fur Burokraten’ entwickelt und umgesetzt.