The public servant as analyst, adviser, and advocate

Bromell, David

doi:10.22459/pp.10.2010.04

Cited by 8 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 6 publications

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“…Public servants are expected to embody 'neutral competence' -they should be technically competent and politically neutral while carrying out their duties faithfully, fully committed to whichever government holds office (e.g. Bromell, 2010;Christiansen et al, 2016;Gregory, 2004). Öhberg et al (2017, p. 272) note that public servants cannot be entirely separate from politics but should be separate from clearly partisan undertakings.…”

Section: Politicisation and Neutralit Y -The Yin And Yang Of The Minimentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Public servants are expected to embody ‘neutral competence’ – they should be technically competent and politically neutral while carrying out their duties faithfully, fully committed to whichever government holds office (e.g. Bromell, 2010; Christiansen et al., 2016; Gregory, 2004). Öhberg et al.…”

Section: Politicisation and Neutrality – The Yin And Yang Of The Minimentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The range of personal behaviours and institutional features of the public service comprises a culture, and an ethical and political framework within which public servants operate commonly articulated in the form of a code of ethics or conduct (Bromell, 2010, p. 64). The Code of Conduct was not explicitly mentioned by participants; however, the personal expectation of impartiality and neutrality was described by ‘all’ participants.…”

Section: Private Secretaries Viewsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Maintaining neutrality in the Minister's office

Cole

2020

Aust J Public Adm

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How do non-partisan advisors in Ministers' offices maintain political neutrality while immersed in a highly politicised environment? Private Secretaries are ubiquitous non-partisan public service representatives in the political environment of Ministers' offices. There has been significant research undertaken the role of political advisors in Ministers' offices, yet the contribution of these nonpartisan advisors has not yet been described in academic literature. The risk of Private Secretaries being overly responsive to politicians and undertaking political tasks rather than maintaining neutrality is ever present. Further, they must actively manage the risk of free and frank advice being obstructed by political advisors. This article presents views about political neutrality gleaned from interviews with Private Secretaries who have worked in Ministers' offices in New Zealand during the period of 1997-2018. It presents new insights into the tensions within a key setting of the core executive.

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Section: Politicisation and Neutralit Y -The Yin And Yang Of The Minimentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Politicisation and Neutrality – The Yin And Yang Of The Minimentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Private Secretaries Viewsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Maintaining neutrality in the Minister's office

Cole

2020

Aust J Public Adm

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“…In this role type, accountability is viewed in terms of following or enacting the wishes of one's superiors (i.e. senior officials or legislators) rather than acting on behalf of specific groups or equity concerns (Bromell, ). As a policy analyst, the bureaucrat does not engage in disputes over values; rather, as an ‘objective technician’ (Meltsner, ), he or she is primarily concerned with testing, validating and rejecting policy options through rational procedures.…”

Section: Bureaucratic Role Perceptions and Policy Workmentioning

confidence: 99%

Bureaucratic Role Perceptions and Gender Mainstreaming in Canada

Scala

Paterson

2017

Gender Work & Organization

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Since the mid‐1990s, governments have adopted gender mainstreaming (GM) as a strategy for achieving gender equality and improving women's social, economic and political conditions. Yet, studies indicate that GM continues to be unevenly implemented, both within and across countries. To explain this outcome, this paper focuses on the local implementers of GM — the gender focal points — and how they understand GM and interpret it in their everyday work. Drawing upon interviews with gender focal points in the Canadian public service, we explore how bureaucratic role perceptions shape how these local actors understand GM and how they navigate the complex terrain between bureaucratic neutrality and the equality agenda of gender mainstreaming. Our exploratory study shows no common understanding among our interviewees, revealing how the meaning of gender mainstreaming varies depending on whether the public servant views himself or herself as policy analyst, policy advisor or policy advocate. Based on these insights, we conclude with suggestions for future research on gender mainstreaming.

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“…Third, as the moral conduct of public servants is the result of institutionalization procedures that exist in the public sector (Bromell, 2010), it is recommended to pay critical attention to legislation and ethical codes that regulate and guide educational leaders' behavior. For example, national and local government can establish administrative regulations granting greater administrative freedom to leaders, thereby weakening the bureaucratic obstacles to leaders' social action efforts.…”

Section: A Socioecological Frameworkmentioning

confidence: 99%

A socio-ecological framework of social justice leadership in education

Berkovich

2014

Journal of Educational Administration

122

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Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to present the gap between conceptualizations of social injustices and the desired social transformation that addresses multiple social subsystems and levels on one hand, and social justice leadership that addresses intra-school efforts on the other. The paper aims to expand the conceptualization of social justice leadership and tie it together with concepts of activism and social change. Design/methodology/approach – The paper adopts a socio-ecological perspective. It reviews works about social justice leadership in education, activism, and social change to present the notion that in light of existing social justice barriers educational leaders should serve as activists in schools and in the community and policy areas. Findings – The paper presents a macro framework, focussing on individual leaders in the field and on the consolidation of intentions, actions, and outcomes in a manner necessary for using social justice as an effective socio-political agenda in a socio-ecological system. Originality/value – The paper presents a conceptual framework which can enable practitioners and researchers to better understand social justice efforts.

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The public servant as analyst, adviser, and advocate

Cited by 8 publications

References 6 publications

Maintaining neutrality in the Minister's office

Maintaining neutrality in the Minister's office

Bureaucratic Role Perceptions and Gender Mainstreaming in Canada

A socio-ecological framework of social justice leadership in education

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