Organizational model of municipal housing stock management in the contracting system–A case study of Poland

Abstract

Social housing management across Europe is evolving towards a more market-oriented approach in response to the progressing decentralization of public services and privatization of public housing. In Poland, these trends are particularly related to changes in the organization of municipal housing stock management. One recommended option for such changes has become the evolution from an indirect system based on municipal units into a contracting system based on private entities.This paper presents the organizational model of municipal housing stock management in Poland in the contracting system. The model was designed as an organizational management standard for a typical urban municipality. The model was developed by integrating theoretical solutions and the results of empirical research conducted in Polish cities in view of the key organizational principles. The methodology for developing the model was based on the diagnostic-functional approach to designing organizational systems with the use of the Hijmans competence tables technique. This model strives to enhance the quality and efficiency of municipal housing management services by improving their organization in line with the New Public Management concept. The proposed model could be of interest to other countries where the management of social housing is subjected to restructuring and privatization pressure.