Public Administration In Bangladesh Research Articles

Exercising bureaucratic discretion through selective bridging: A response to institutional complexity in Bangladesh

AbstractWe attempt to reconcile top‐down and bottom‐up perspectives on bureaucratic discretion to understand how actors ‘caught in the middle’, such as middle level public managers, negotiate conflicting demands to exercise discretion in the Bangladesh public administration. To do this, we employ the institutional logics framework, a theoretical lens that conceptualises how regulative, cultural forces bear down on actors, and also acknowledges actor agency. Based on 32 interviews with current and former public servants and local public administration experts, supported by secondary documentary analysis, we identify a new way in which discretion may be enacted in institutionally complex settings, offering a way to reconcile top‐down and bottom‐up perspectives. We term this response selective bridging—a sense‐making approach to exploit the complementarities of competing institutional forces from the top to exercise discretion for bottom‐up needs.

How Can More Effective Bangladesh Public Administration Training Policy-2003 for Strengthen Accountable Governance: Overview of the Challenges

How Can More Effective Bangladesh Public Administration Training Policy-2003 for Strengthen Accountable Governance: Overview of the Challenges

What Motivates to Transfer of Training?

Training organizations in the public sector, on the other hand, have a mission to arrange training programs for human resource development at all levels. As a result, the training program's goal is to increase trainees' capacity in terms of skill, knowledge, and work behavior (attitude) so that they can offer better service to citizens.The Bangladesh Public Administration Training Centre (BPATC) and Bangladesh Public Service Administration Academy (BCSAA) are responsible for providing civil officials with training. The government has made training and development the highest priority, investing much in this domain. Motivation to the transfer of training has many folds; therefore, this study aims to identify the factors for motivation to transfer of training and find out the relationship of influencing factors for motivation to training transfer.The research took a quantitative method. The respondents have worked in the field and have received training from either BPATC or BCSAA or both training organizations. Using standardized questionnaire item scores ranging from "strongly agree" to "strongly disagree," data was collected from respondents.This study employed a purposeful random sampling approach. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, an online questionnaire (emailing) was circulated to 1800 participants who had received training from BPATC and BCSAA. A total of 307 respondents participated in the study.A model was developed based on research hypotheses. Model and formulated hypotheses were tested by Regression and Coefficient results, some hypotheses are shown positive and significant impact on the transfer of training. The regression model is significant, according to the results. Furthermore, some factors have a positive effect on motivation to transfer training according to Standardize coefficient value and level of significance (p<.05)

Factors Influence the Performance of Training Organizations: A Study on Bangladesh Public Administration Training Centre

Bangladesh Public Administration Training Centre (BPATC), an apex training organization, is a key player in the development of public sector human resources by offering and arranging high-quality training programs. A current curriculum and qualified training professors and staff are required for quality and effective training. As a result, the study's goals are to identify variables that determine training institution performance and as well measuring factors that influence, or impact training organizations’ performance and policy implications are drawn. A quantitative approach is adopted and as a research technique employs a highly known and frequently utilized structured questionnaire survey instrument. The respondents' data is collected using a purposive sampling approach. For data analysis, a scholarly software program called SPSS is employed. In addition to descriptive statistics, principal component factor analysis is used in this study. Unstandardized Coefficients values with significant levels (p<.001) are used to test stated hypotheses and ANOVA is used to evaluate model significance. For organizational performance, PCA has identified four variables. Factors have high loading values. Among the four hypotheses, regression results confirmed that only one hypothesis ‘training staff relationship’ is having a positive and significant relationship with training organizations’ performance.

Advancing Public Service Innovation Through Empathy: An Analysis of Bangladesh’s Intrepid Approach

This study attempts to understand, explore and analyse how Bangladesh public administration has made considerable progress in fostering public service innovation (PSI) by instilling empathy among the public bureaucrats through the Empathy Training Programme (ETP). By employing qualitative methods, this study collected data from both primary and secondary sources. The empirical findings of the study suggest that ETP has been able to change the paternalistic and colonial mindset of public bureaucrats. In addition, the study further reveals that public bureaucrats are bringing this knowledge of empathy-led innovation to their workplaces, where they are effectively practising it, indicating that the ETP has not only been able to generate a cultural change in the Bangladesh Civil Service (BCS) but also has created a sense of responsiveness and self-accountability among public bureaucrats. However, there are still areas of concern in terms of the sustainability of the ETP approach. The study also identified some critical building blocks, which have been considered responsible for the limited scaling up of the pilot projects. Finally, the study has come up with a set of recommendations for making this intrepid approach to Bangladesh public administration more effective.

Transit Ridership of Dhaka Metro Rail

This study focuses on the future ridership of Dhaka’s under-construction metro rail. Dhaka offers an exceptional context with the world’s highest density of population. How the sociocultural condition of the city’s population would impact the future ridership of the metro rail was an interesting question. The data for the study were collected through a structured questionnaire by the participants of a training programme designed for the Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited officials and implemented by the Bangladesh Public Administration Training Centre. The respondents were randomly chosen from six catchment areas of a part of the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) Line-6. This paper presents the survey findings using descriptive and inferential statistics. The implications of the findings are discussed. The study findings substantially contribute to the scientific knowledge of urban transportation governance regarding rapid-transit facility development. Moreover, the findings carry policy implications for city planners.

Curriculum Development in Public Administration in Bangladesh: Lessons from Experience of Others

This article examines the process of curriculum development for Public Administration in public universities in Bangladesh and explores the extent to which Bangladesh can learn lessons from others’ experiences, especially from countries in the South Asian region. The article compares and contrasts the curriculum and courses offered by different departments of Public Administration and explores reasons for variations. It also analyses measures adopted for the modernisation of curriculum and identifies factors that are likely to retard the progress towards change and improvement. The article argues that the widespread autonomy that different universities enjoy has become counterproductive, leading to a decline in the standard of education and the politicisation of the governing process in the universities. Everything now weighs in party political terms. This, in turn, causes more harm than good. Bangladesh can try to learn, especially from India’s experiences, how to stress on striking a balance between autonomy to be enjoyed by universities and control to be exercised by the government/University Grants Commission (UGC) to ensure that the practice does not differ much from the ideal.

Slipstreaming for Public Sector Reform: How Enterprising Public Sector Leaders Navigate Institutional Inertia

Abstract We situate public sector leaders as actors who deal with competing institutional demands, and examine how public sector leaders can facilitate reform implementation in the face of institutional inertia in a transitional setting, Bangladesh public administration. Based on 32 interviews with current and former Bangladeshi civil servants and local public administration experts supported by secondary analysis of government documents, our evidence shows that public sector leaders operating within multiple logics are agentic in contributing to reform. However, these leaders also become constrained by institutional pressures that threaten their legitimacy and may face sanctions for pursuing local changes. Although public sector leaders typically engage in resistance to reform, our evidence shows that public sector leaders can create enterprising avenues of change, adeptly exercising agency and utilizing existing institutional logics as a conduit to introducing a new institutional order. Our principal contribution is to identify slipstreaming as a means by which institutional actors negotiate institutional logics and facilitate change despite institutional inertia.

Personnel Management in Bangladesh: From Old Public Administration to New Public Management

The article "Personnel Management in Bangladesh: From Old Public Administration to New Public Service" caries clear information about changing patterns and changing factors in the Personnel Management of Bangladesh public administration. There are meaningful descriptions of how administrative changes have occurred now in Personnel Management in Bangladesh since independence and why changes have occurred. From the British period to the Bangladesh period, organizational changes and the current state of new public service have been highlighted by this study too. Secondary data have accomplished the article. For instance, from the literature review, book review, and other sources. Although there was a lack of information on this topic, attempts have been made to provide more information than other articles.

An Effectiveness Study on Policy Level Training Course: A Case from Bangladesh Public Administration Training Centre, Bangladesh

The civil servants are treated as the principal-agent of the government for providing service and coordinating among different segments of society; it is better to provide appropriate training to them. Bangladesh public administration training centre (bpatc) is providing capacity enhancement training for the civil servants. The study aims attempt: to identify the effectiveness of the existing curriculum of the policy level courses for senior civil servants; to examine training methods whether those are relevant for curriculum delivery as need-based or not, if so then how much; to identify some strong and weak points as a means of 'center of excellence' of bangladesh public administration training centre (bpatc) and to visualize managerial implications and provide policy suggestions for ensuring the effectiveness of policy level training courses for the senior civil servants of bangladesh. This study adopted semi-structured questionnaires developed by the evaluation department of bpatc are assessed and presented in this report to obtain study objectives. Analyzing results found that in training modules, training methods, contents, some academic, and non-academic components at a satisfactory level. Results also provide some managerial implications for the future development of training courses and training content development. Bpatc organizes several training courses, but this study has given focused only on senior staff course (ssc). Finally, the study findings have implications to enrich the training curriculum development of policy-level courses and training management for the senior officials as well.

A glimpse of light in darkness: Performance‐based accountability in Bangladesh public administration

AbstractIn the public administration literature, several studies have been conducted to analyze the performance of the developing countries in embracing the New Public Management (NPM) principles in general. However, limited attention has been paid to explore the experiences of these countries in implementing a performance‐based accountability system, which is an integral part of the NPM movement. This paper analyzes the experience of Bangladesh, wherein 2014, the Government introduced a key performance‐based accountability initiative known as Annual Performance Agreement (APA). In this paper, based on in‐depth qualitative interviews with 42 bureaucrats at different levels and ministries of the Government, we argue that APA has improved the professional accountability of the bureaucracy. Based on this crucial finding, we try to explain why this particular initiative has succeeded whereas previous administrative reform efforts have largely failed. We argue that whereas the past reform efforts targeted broad organizational reforms, the current performance‐based initiatives like APA aimed to bring small‐scale incremental efficiency and effectiveness of bureaucrats. This change in the reform approach has played a pivotal role in ensuring the success of a performance‐based professional accountability system. The model we have developed for categorizing administrative reform efforts in this paper may be used to better understand the success and failure of administrative reform efforts in general and in developing countries in particular.

How does the Foundation Training Course Enhance the Capacity of the Young Civil Servants to Achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)? A Study on Bangladesh Public Administration Training Centre

How does the Foundation Training Course Enhance the Capacity of the Young Civil Servants to Achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)? A Study on Bangladesh Public Administration Training Centre

ORGANISATIONAL CHALLENGES AND BENEFITS OF E- HRM IMPLEMENTATIONS IN GOVERNMENTAL ORGANISATIONS: THEORETICAL SHIFT FROM TOE MODEL

The main purpose of this article is to extend organisational context of TOE (Technology- Organisation- Environment) model through understanding the challenges and benefits of e-HRM implementation in governmental organisations in Bangladesh. The main contribution of this perspective is to demonstrate a theoretical shift from 1990 to 2018 because the advanced technology is a critical part of the organisations in the current century. In order to do this research, we conducted 30 semi- structured qualitative interviews (15 in each organisation) at Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Ministry of Public Administration in Bangladesh. Based on the findings of this research, we found ‘IT (Information Technologies) Knowledge and Skills’, ‘Change Process’, ‘Employees’ satisfaction and motivation’, and ‘emerging role conflict’ as a micro- organisational context in addition to macro- organisational context that are ‘formal and informal linking structures’, ‘communication process’, ‘size’, and ‘slack’. Thus, we provided a theoretical contribution to the previous TOE model and we developed the model based on the current technology and organisational environment.

Major Challenges of Public Administration in Bangladesh: Few Observations and Suggestions

This article tries to address some of the challenges of public administration in Bangladesh. By ensuring effective implementation of some in-built mechanism of bureaucracy and making provision of devolution type decentralization system, independent judiciary, ombudsman, ensuring effective role of participatory management, parliamentary committees, political pluralism, vibrant civil society, responsible media etc. bureaucracy can be made accountable. Openness and free flow of information regarding government policies, programs and projects can help in ensuring transparency. Powerful and effective anti-corruption commission by which misappropriation, defalcation of public fund or any kind of corrupt practices can be treated quickly with necessary punitive actions, measures for checking political corruption in public-sector can reduce corruption in public administration. Effective personnel management i.e. recruitment, training, promotion, transfer policy, result oriented performance evaluation system, rationalization of pay structure, modernization of office equipment, standardization of services, fruitful monitoring system, system of reward and punishment, modern budgetary and tax system, capacity building of personnel of legislative, judicial and executive branches etc. can help in overcoming the hurdles and challenges of public administration in Bangladesh.

The Linkage Between E-governance and Good Governance: An Analysis on Bangladesh Public Administration

E-governance, a paradigm shift from the traditional approaches in public administration, has been recognized as a pivotal force for transformational improvement of governance in quality, responsiveness, efficiency and effectiveness. Advancement in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) as well as immense pressure of globalization thus has brought about a new dimension to the concept of governance. Basically, the quintessence of good governance lies in the best installation of ICT based governance mechanism through widening the way for more transparency and increased accountability. The objective of this study is to identify the nexus between e-governance and good governance in the context of Bangladesh. Accountability, transparency, efficiency, decentralization, administrative reform and satisfaction regarding public services by its clients are noticeable problem areas in the present governance of the country. On the basis of lessons learned from successful practices in developing countries and various research reports, this study suggests that e-governance mechanism, an antidote to poor governance, can play a significant role in ensuring good governance and thus offers the opportunities to transformational change in public administration of Bangladesh.

Utilization of the Training of Trainers of Bangladesh Public Administration Training Centre: An Empirical Study

Utilization of the Training of Trainers of Bangladesh Public Administration Training Centre: An Empirical Study

Merit-based recruitment: the key to effective public administration in Bangladesh

Bangladesh Civil Service (BCS) is like the nucleus of country’s overall development. Brilliant graduates wish to join BCS and contribute to the prosperity of the nation. However, it is not that easy to join BCS for all meritorious graduates. Due to quota or preserved post in greater part of BCS, they are denied from the service of the nation. However, Bangladesh needs an effective public administration to turn up her long-term vision to be a middle-income country by 2021. Nonetheless, for an effective and dynamic public administration, recruitment of talented, hard working and committed personnel are essential. In this perspective, the study intends to evaluate the present recruitment system of BCS, analyzes its problems, and tries to find out the possible solution. In addition, it tries to know the idea and observation of present and future civil servants regarding present recruitment system and overall BCS. It collects primary data from the respondents before analyzing and providing some policy recommendations. It also compares and contrasts, why BCS needs merit not quota. Finally, the study proposes a model for Merit-based Recruitment in BCS with some assumptions.

Rethinking of Curriculum for the Senior Staff Course of Bangladesh Public Administration Training Centre: An Empirical Analysis

One of the mandates of Bangladesh Public Administration Training Centre (BPATC) is to develop human capital of senior level civil servants of Bangladesh. This study has identified the development needs of the Joint Secretaries of Bangladesh Civil Service in order to facilitate knowledge and skills through Senior Staff Course (SSC) organized by BPATC. This study has used quantitative research approach. Data were collected from different levels of respondents that include officers of the rank of Joint Secretary, Additional Secretary and Secretary. The results have yielded seven thematic areas, in respect of knowledge and skills where Joint Secretaries are required to develop and with these seven thematic areas course contents need to be developed to achieve present and future priorities of the Government of Bangladesh.

Managing Natural Disasters in Bangladesh: Activating the Network Approach

Bangladesh public administration is in a stage of transition from traditional to modern network approach. At the outset while one would still observe the traditional nature of “doing things” by Bangladesh public administration, we argue that a slow but significant changing trend can be identified. To test this hypothesis, the paper uses the present disaster management systems and practices in Bangladesh. Based on empirical findings, the paper argues that though Bangladesh public administration and policies are trying to follow a network structure of governance in handling natural disasters, due to some inherent traditional structural problems that the bureaucracy suffers from, effective collaboration among the actors does not take place and the network is not performing as effectively as expected.

Modernizing Bangladesh public administration through e-governance: Benefits and challenges

Abstract More and more public administration emphasizes how Information and Communication Technology (ICT) can be used to support transformational change in governmental functions globally to achieve efficiency and cost-effective service delivery to citizens. Bangladesh public administration employs energies to achieve this goal. Experience in some developing countries has shown that e-governance can improve transparency which leads to, among other things, corruption control and poverty reduction. This article examines the role that e-governance can play in the modernization of public administration for efficient and effective service delivery to the citizens of Bangladesh, as well as its potential to control corruption and reduce poverty. Based on the lessons learned from successful practices in developing countries and literature review, it suggests that e-governance can play a significant role for corruption control and poverty reduction, and thus offers opportunities to cost-effective service delivery to the citizens in Bangladesh.