PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION AND GOVERNANCE IN GLOBAL CONTEXT
1.Is a severe fiscal crisis always necessary to spur major
administrative reforms?Explain
2. In Europe, the response to the fiscal difficulties of the 1980s was
to make gradual adjustments across the board within the same
model of government. In other countries, such as New Zealand
and the U.K., the response was to attempt a major reformulation
of the role of the state. Which response was more appropriate? 3. Are there areas of administration where the reform was similar in all countries?
4. If you are asked to do more with less and in a shorter time, what
will be the likely consequences for your efficiency and quality of
activity? What if you were more closely supervised? What if you
were at the same time granted more autonomy and flexibility of
action?
5. What spurred the second reform phase, toward better and more
responsive government?
6. Is it a coincidence that, albeit with exceptions and in different
manners, public administration reforms took place more or less
during the same periods of time?
7. Pick one of the two following proverbs and make a credible
argument for it:
“He who goes slow goes safe and goes far.”
“He who goes slow never arrives.”
8. Given enough money, skilled staff and enough time, a
dysfunctional government agency can reform itself. Discuss.
9. There is no point in tinkering with improvements in
administrative systems when advanced systems are available.
Real reform consists of identifying the best system available in
the world to manage the government function concerned, and
then to adopt it in the country – with appropriate support and
advice from the outside. Discuss.
10. If the most advanced practice is adopted, capacity will
eventually grow to meet it. Discuss