Theorizing Implementation of Public Management Policy Reforms: A Case Study of Strategic Planning and Programming in the European Commission

Barzelay, Michael; Jacobsen, Anne Sofie

doi:10.1111/j.1468-0491.2009.01437.x

Cited by 54 publications

(36 citation statements)

References 19 publications

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“…Kassim 2009). Recent administrative reforms of the Commission have been described as historic, profound in depth, and wide-ranging in scope (Barzelay and Jacobsen 2009;Bauer 2009;Schön-Quinlivan 2006). Yet, the behavioural logics among Commission officials seem not profoundly transformed by these reforms (Trondal 2012b).…”

Section: Integrationmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Rise of European Administrative Space: Lessons Learned

Trondal¹,

Peters²

2013

Journal of European Public Policy

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Despite advances in contemporary research on the European administrative space (EAS), no widespread understanding about its meaning, mechanisms and significance yet exists. This research agenda paper offers a comprehensive conceptualisation of EAS and takes stock of accumulated lessons learned. It is suggested that the rise of EAS features a transformation of administrative order that analytically can be grasped in terms of four analytical dimensions: independence, integration, co-optation and institutionalisation. Taken together, these elements suggest that EAS features the transformation of the inherent administrative order and the rise of an emergent common administrative system. The purpose of this research agenda paper essay is three-folded. Our first ambition is conceptual by offering a new account of EAS. The second ambition is empirical examining the varied and rich research agendas currently under way. Our final ambition is to stimulate further research along the conceptual map suggested. The empirical laboratory consists of key institutions of EAS, notably the European Commission, the European Parliament administration, EU agencies, EU committees, and domestic agencies.

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Section: Integrationmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Rise of European Administrative Space: Lessons Learned

Trondal¹,

Peters²

2013

Journal of European Public Policy

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“…A number of studies have investigated the implementation of public policies in general (Bardach, 1977;Barzelay and Jacobson, 2009;Dunleavy, 1991;Hill and Hupe, 2002;Mazmanian and Sabatier, 1989;Ongaro and Valotti, 2008;Parrado, 2008), and accounting reforms in particular (Christiaens, 1999;Christiaens and Peteghem, 2007;Connolly and Hyndman, 2006a;Pettersen, 2001). While this stream of research is particularly important, we focus here on an area which has been less investigated in accounting: the way different systems and actors differently translate accounting reforms at the national level (Czarniawska, 2011;Christensen and Laegreid, 2011).…”

Section: A Comparison Of the Uk Austrian And Italian Experiencesmentioning

confidence: 99%

The translation and sedimentation of accounting reforms. A comparison of the UK, Austrian and Italian experiences

Hyndman¹,

Liguori²,

Meyer

et al. 2014

Critical Perspectives on Accounting

123

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The translation and sedimentation of accounting reforms. A comparison of the UK, Austrian and Italian experiences AbstractSince the late 1980s, there has been a significant and progressive movement away from the traditional Public Administration (PA) systems, in favour of NPM-type accounting tools and ideas inspired by the private sector. More recently, a new focus on governance systems, under the banner Public Governance (PG), has emerged. In this paper it is argued that reforms are not isolated events, but are embedded in more global discourses of modernisation and influenced by the institutional pressures present in a certain field at certain points in time. Using extensive document analysis in three countries with different administrative regimes (the UK, Italy and Austria), we examine public sector accounting and budgeting reforms and the underlying discourses put forward in order to support the change. We investigate the extent to which the actual content of the reforms and the discourses they are embedded within are connected over time; that is, whether, and to what degree, the reform "talk" matches the "decisions". The research shows that in both the UK and in Italy there is consistency between the debates and the decided changes, although the dominant discourse in each country differs, while in Austria changes are decided gradually, and only after they have been announced well in advance in the political debate. We find that in all three countries the new ideas and concepts layer and sediment above the existing ones, rather than replace them. Although all three countries underwent similar accounting and budgeting reforms and relied on similar institutional discourses, each made its own specific translation of the ideas and concepts and is characterized by a specific formation of sedimentations. In addition, the findings suggest that, at present in the three countries, the PG discourse is used to supplement, rather than supplant, other prevailing discourses.

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“…Recent administrative reforms of the Commission have been described as historic, profound in depth, and wide-ranging in scope (Barzelay and Jacobsen 2009;Bauer 2009;Schön-Quinlivan 2006). Yet, research suggests that the behavioural logics among Commission officials are not profoundly transformed by such reforms (Trondal 2012).…”

Section: Results and Discussion: Centre Forma-tion In The Commission mentioning

confidence: 99%

Centre Formation and the European Commission: A Research Note

Trondal¹

2012

TOPOLISJ

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Abstract:The preceding decade has witnessed a boost in research on the European Commission (Commission). One central issue debated has been Commission centre formation, both what it entails, its sources, and potential implications. Centre formation in this literature entails the internal integration of government institutions, thus reinforcing intrainstitutional administrative hierarchies. Contemporary research, however, offers inconclusive results as regards the internal integration of the Commission administration. The main motivation for this research note is to show that seemingly inconclusive findings in contemporary Commission research might in fact be complementary. Contemporary literature reports that centre formation inside the Commission is primarily observed at the helm of the Commission hierarchy within the General Secretariat -however only marginally affecting everyday decision-making within Commission sub-units (primarily the policy DGs (ministries)). Competing observations of this kind might be considered complementary because competing behavioural logics tend to co-exist within the Commission administration, albeit embedded and layered within different organisational sub-units.

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Theorizing Implementation of Public Management Policy Reforms: A Case Study of Strategic Planning and Programming in the European Commission

Cited by 54 publications

References 19 publications

The Rise of European Administrative Space: Lessons Learned

The Rise of European Administrative Space: Lessons Learned

The translation and sedimentation of accounting reforms. A comparison of the UK, Austrian and Italian experiences

Centre Formation and the European Commission: A Research Note

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