Romanian Public Administration Research Articles

GENDER EQUALITY AND DISCRIMINATION – AN EXPLORATORY RESEARCH

The present research explores the concept of gender equality and the main issues faced by female civil servants in the pandemic, with purpose of designing recommendations for the development of an inclusive and fair working environment in the Romanian public administration. The study is an exploratory one and was conducted in the Romanian National Agency for Equal Opportunities for Women and Men, the main institution with prerogatives in developing and implementing the strategy for gender equality. The research methodology consists of a survey based on a questionnaire designed by the author. The main findings of the study are: stereotypes and gender role biases are the main cultural or systemic barriers, indicating an increased awareness, especially among women, of the impact of these stereotypes and prejudices on their career opportunities and progress. In addition, the main difficulties encountered by female civil servants during the pandemic were the necessity to spend more time with their families and doing house chores, as well as to take more often, unexpected leave days.

Social Media in times of change: a three-period analysis of sentiment and engagement on the romanian ministry of education's online presence

Introduction: This research investigates the role of social media in institutional communication, with a focus on its effectiveness in engaging stakeholders within the educational sector. It analyzes the impact of digital transformation on public institutions, focusing on how governments' strategic communication during the COVID-19 pandemic, the adoption of digital platforms, and Facebook's role in Romanian public administration demonstrate social media's capabilities. It highlights the effectiveness of social media in spreading information, engaging public sentiment, and enhancing communication strategies during crises. Additionally, it addresses the challenges of combating misinformation and underscores the importance of developing tailored communication strategies. Methodology: The study investigates the engagement of the Romanian Ministry of Education on social media, especially Facebook, during the pre-pandemic, pandemic, and post-pandemic periods. It aims to discern shifts in communication strategies and public engagement by analyzing posting frequency, engagement rates, sentiment analysis, and reaction types, employing tools like Fanpagekarma and RStudio for data collection and analysis. Results: The analysis indicates an uptick in post frequency by the Ministry of Education during the pandemic, with sentiment analysis revealing a consistently positive tone. This suggests a strategic shift towards more optimistic messaging. Engagement rates showed considerable variation pre-pandemic but stabilized during and after the pandemic, indicating effective content resonance with the audience. Conclusions: The study underscores the significant role of social media in crisis communication, evidenced by increased engagement and strategic positive messaging. It recommends institutions continue utilizing social media for flexible communication strategies, suggesting that a balance of optimistic messaging with transparent discussions about challenges can boost public trust and engagement, aiding in the development of a well-informed and resilient society.

The Contribution of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan to the Development of Digital Skills in Romanian Public Administration

The Contribution of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan to the Development of Digital Skills in Romanian Public Administration

Navigating the Digital Frontier: A Comprehensive Examination of Romanian Public Administration Digitization and Its Perceptual Implications

Abstract As societies increasingly embrace digital transformations, public administration is confronted with the imperative to adapt and innovate in the face of evolving technological landscapes. This article delves into the multifaceted realm of digitization within public administration, focusing on the perceptual dimensions that shape the adoption and efficacy of digital solutions. By synthesizing empirical studies, case analyses, and theoretical frameworks, this research offers a comprehensive exploration of how digitization influences the perception of stakeholders, including citizens, public servants, and policymakers. The study investigates the impact of digitization on efficiency, transparency, and accessibility in public services, aiming to unravel the complexities of the interplay between technology and public administration. Special attention is given to the challenges and opportunities associated with the integration of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, blockchain, and data analytics. Through a comparative analysis of digitization initiatives across diverse administrative contexts, the article seeks to identify best practices and lessons learned, providing insights into the factors that contribute to successful digital transitions. Furthermore, the research examines the societal and organizational factors influencing the perception of digitization in public administration, shedding light on issues of trust, privacy, and equity. By considering the perspectives of various stakeholders, this article aims to contribute to a nuanced understanding of the socio-political dynamics surrounding the digital transformation of public services. Ultimately, this article not only contributes to the academic discourse on public administration and technology but also provides practical insights for policymakers and public administrators seeking to navigate the digital frontier effectively. The findings presented herein serve as a roadmap for harnessing the full potential of digitization while mitigating challenges and fostering a positive perception of technological advancements in public administration.

Post-Pandemic Exploratory Analysis of the Romanian Public Administration Digitalization Level in Comparison to the Most Digitally Developed States of the European Union

This study aims to carry out a comparative analysis between the level of digitization of the Romanian public administration compared to that existing in the most digitally developed states at the European level. Our study identifies the extent to which Romanian citizens have access to non-bureaucratic and transparent public services that support social inclusion and non-discrimination, compared to European citizens from states with the best digitalization of public services. Also, our research studies the relationship between the level of digitalization quantified by the DESI indicator and the level of income for the states considered in the analysis, as well as the relationship between digitalization and bureaucracy, the corruption index, and the digital skills of citizens. Based on the 486 statistical data collected and centralized on the corruption index (CPI), as well as the values for DESI and GNI per capita, for the period 2017–2022 for the 27 EU member states, we performed a statistical analysis using SPSS 28 regarding the existence of a DESI relationship and level of income (GNI per capita) and/or CPI (Corruption Perceptions Index). Our study is on a current issue, as it addresses the issue of digitalization of public administration, in the new post-pandemic and geostrategic context. It has theoretical applicability, by determining a model that can be used to study the relationship between digitalization and the standard of living and corruption, and also practical application, because it can contribute to the awareness of the government in taking measures and adopting strategies to reduce gaps as compared to the most developed digital states.

Development and implementation of human resources management policies and strategies in the Romanian public administration

Human activity seen from various perspectives: social, economic, political, administrative is carried out by people organized in collectives, depending on its importance. The administrative approach comes to order the logic of activity in a community entrusted to an authority that carries out planning, organization and control actions, in order to achieve the social mission and the purpose of the establishment and operation of public administration institutions. In this context, we propose a brief, specified approach to the need to streamline the activities of public administration authorities. The problem of human resources management in public administration requires a specified approach to the objectives of streamlining the activities of public administration authorities based on a human resources management strategy, which would contribute to the creation of a professional, transparent, flexible and responsive public function to the needs of society. The policies in the field of public office and civil servants represent a particularly important and always current key issue for ensuring the competitiveness and success of any public institution, even more so of the public administration.

Compatibility between Agile Culture and Romanian Public Administration in the context of National Security Environment

Abstract Nowadays, there is a legitimization of enhancing managerial processes in professional environment. Efficiently managing resources, processes, and practices is fundamental. Entrepreneurs and public institution managers are actively seeking innovative solutions to achieve organizational goals swiftly, utilizing fewer resources, and minimizing or eradicating human errors. Given the challenging security environment, this paper aims to ascertain whether the public administration can leverage the advantages of Agile Culture implementation within the organizational framework of Romanian Administration. This study embarks on a structured literature review focusing on three pivotal pillars: organizational culture, Agile Culture, and Romanian public administration. It scrutinizes the feasibility of implementing Agile Culture within the organizational landscape of the Romanian Public Sector, situated within an integrative framework delineated by the current security context.

Main factors and causes that are influencing the digital competences of human resources

The integration of digital technologies in public administration is influenced by the digital competences of human resources. The objectives of this research are to identify the main factors and causes that influence human resources’ level of digital competences and to find out the correlations between factors, causes, and digital competences. The survey was conducted within the National Agency of Civil Servants (NACS) responsible for the management of civil servants from the Romanian public administration. 25 variables were selected and grouped in three categories. The main research instruments used were: SPSS and Principal Component Analysis. According to the research results, the main factors influencing digital competences are social factors, extrinsic motivation factors, and administrative and managerial factors. The main causes with a relevant impact on digital competence development are data security and privacy risks, the dynamic of technologies, lack of continuity in ICT integration in organization activities, and excessive bureaucracy. All variables in the model have positive correlations. The results of the research are useful and interesting both for scholars and governmental institutions. The causes, factors, and correlations between them are discussed for the first time in the specialized literature and are raising up the key elements of digital competences that should be taken into account for an efficient digital transformation of public administration.

Fostering social entrepreneurship through public administration support

This research empirically examines the role of the Romanian public administration in supporting social entrepreneurship initiatives to address local community development challenges. Data were collected from a survey of 145 representatives of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) working closely with Romanian public administration institutions involved in social entrepreneurship projects. Increased awareness of social problems and publicly funded incentives enable social entrepreneurs to develop social projects. Descriptive statistical analyses were used to test several hypotheses based on the theoretical background. According to the analyses, high involvement of local public administrations in social entrepreneurship initiatives is strongly correlated with the importance of social projects for local communities and with citizens’ positive perception of the managers of public institutions. High involvement of local public administrations is moderately correlated with citizens’ interest in supporting social causes and projects that add value to the community. It is also weakly correlated with the interest of private companies in co-financing such projects through public–private partnerships (PPPs) and the capacity of public institutions to attract non-reimbursable European funds for this purpose. This research contributes to the entrepreneurship literature by illustrating the role of public institutions in strengthening relationships with private companies and NGOs to develop social projects.

"Public Administration Reform in Romania: Assessing the Past and Looking Into the Future"

"This article provides an account of the transformational capacity of Romanian public administration in relation to four main aspects: (1) human resource performance and integrity; (2) territorial, functional and institutional decentralization; (3) public policies and (4) capitalizing on the digital and innovative component. The Romania case study highlights the gradual transformation of public administration in the last 30 years, as a reaction to the emergence of economic, social and political crises. For an imperative and irreversible change, we have identified directions for capitalizing on opportunities and good practices in the matter, in the context of the intensified integration process in NATO and the EU. We have analyzed the strategic documents on strengthening and accelerating the transformation of public administration and highlighted the need for the interconnection and interdependence of its four pillars to meet the specific objectives of Horizon 2030. For decision-makers, practitioners and researchers, this article aims to stimulate and contribute to the dedicated public debate and consultation of coherent, predictable and sustainable legislation and practices in the matter."

Impact of Leadership and Gender on Civil Servants’ Resilience in the Romanian State’s Public Administration

"The research analyses the leadership styles prac ticed in the Romanian public administration, the gender differences regarding the practiced leader ship and in terms of exhibiting behaviors that could lead to the development of civil servants’ resilience, trying to investigate the relation between leadership, gender, and resilience. The paper contributes to the scientific literature in the field by analyzing three concepts that are not usually explored together and especially in the public administration. The research methodology consists of a sociological survey con ducted in the Romanian public administration where 766 civil servants agreed to participate. The research revealed that the studied leaders present a mix of characteristics where transforma tional and transactional behaviors are predominant. Regarding gender differences, both men and wom en are considered to lead in a similar manner, but a higher preference for male leaders was observed. Men’s leadership behaviors are better appreciated, indicating the presence of gender stereotypes and a certain level of prejudice against women. The studied leaders possess the necessary character istics for developing civil servants’ resilience, being perceived as exhibiting supportive, encouraging, and motivating attitudes when their subordinates faced difficult moments in their careers. Also, the exis tence of a direct relation between transformational leadership and resilience was observed."

A QUALITATIVE RESEARCH ON CIVIL SERVANTS’ MOTIVATION FROM ROMANIAN PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION

Since the beginning of 1975, researchers have grown their interest in public service motivation and, despite the increased number of publications until our days, no research has been developed on PSM in the Romanian’ public administration system. The present study analyses the motivation system in the Romanian public administration and the prime goal was to find out the main problems and aspects that must be improved in order to increase both the extrinsic and intrinsic motivation among Romanian’ civil servants. The research is based on a qualitative approach, being an exploratory study conducted using two research methods: the analysis of the official documents and the opinion survey based on an interview, in order to design a series of proposals for improving civil servants’ current level of motivation. The results show a difference in the respondents’ answers regarding the system of motivation for civil servants. The participants in the interview were respondents from the central and local public administration.

Public institutions in the social media arena: Searching for citizens’ attention. Zoom on Romania’s particularities

Social media is taking up increasingly more space in the government’s media toolbox. In Romania, both local and central public organizations are getting savvier in communicating through these channels, intuitively thought of as the playground of teens and startups. By analyzing the social media pages of some of the more active (on social media) Romanian public institutions, and by interviewing the people in charge with the their online communication, we tried to find the amount importance these new forms of communication are given by the public sector - usually seen as more cumbersome and slower to adapt to changing media landscapes. One other goal was to find out how formalized the role of ‘online media communicator’ is in the Romanian public administration.

Digital transformation of training programs for public administration

Abstract The pandemic changed the paradigm of education at all levels. From primary schools to universities, teachers and students must conform to new patterns for teaching and learning. The goal of this paper is to share the experience resulted from the pilot project developed at the National Institute of Administration in order to deliver online training for public administration in the pandemic context. The project entitled PPP online (Romanian abbreviation for “online training programs”) was a challenge which supposed the redesign of the curricula and finding the best alternatives for delivering knowledge and interaction between trainers and participants. We must emphasize that there was only very limited experience in online training for Romanian public administration until 2020. In this paper we expose the choices considered for the transition to online training and the results of a study about participants’ perception regarding difficulties they encountered and the quality of programs. In this regard, we collected and analysed the feedback from more than 1000 participants (respondents to an online questionnaire). Our study has an optimistic conclusion about changing teaching and learning through technology in public administration. It can be appreciated that both trainers and participants can rapidly adapt to the conditions of the online learning environment and the proposed structure of training programs was validated by the results and positive feedback. We also present some best practices achieved during the pilot project.

The Use of Social Networking Websites in Romanian Public Administration

Social media have proven to be a valuable new environment for communication, in such a measure that even public institutions have adopted them to engage with their various audiences. As of 2012, Romania is part of the international agreement named Partnership for an open government, whose key purposes include increasing transparency, en- couraging civic participation in public life, and the use of new technologies in administration. Social media have both the potential and the necessary tools to ensure an increased level of quality interaction between public ad- ministration and its users. However, statistics on the use of social networks in Romanian public organizations are scarce. Considering Facebook as the main network having both the capacity and the efficiency needed to in- crease participation, this study is envisaged to review how social networks have been adopted by Romanian public administration, with a close look at the engagement received from the online interaction with the citizens. We aim to address the currently existing knowledge gap in the field of public communication through social media networks. For this study’s purpose, several Romanian public institution’s Facebook pages will be analyzed, aiming to conclude into a comprehensive image of the level and qual- ity of public engagement with the respective public institutions and the Romanian public administration as a whole. We found out that photo and video were the most frequently used and had the most scores in engagement than other media types. Regarding citizen engagement, the Like button is the most frequent way for citizens to interact with public institutions. Social media provide a space for common communication between public administrations and stakeholders and have the effect of increasing trans- parency, collaboration and participation if are used properly.

Transparency in public administration as a challenge for a good democratic governance

In democratic societies, the transparency of public institutions is essential. Increasingly, developed or developing countries recognize that free access to information is fundamental to democracy. Whether we are talking about the government or the private companies that manage public services, access to the data held by these organizations means increasing accountability and allows citizens to know what these organizations do and what they use public money for. Access to information develops citizens' trust in public institutions, enabling citizens to understand public policy decisions and monitor their implementation. The purpose of our research is to identify the degree of transparency of the ministries in the Romanian Government. The research was based on public data and information identified on the websites of 18 ministries in the current structure of the Romanian Government, but also on data collected using online questionnaires answered by 45 officials from the Information and Documentation Departments of the ministries. The data and information obtained were processed in excel and SPSS. The database was completed with the evaluation reports on the implementation of Law 52/2003 on decisional transparency in the Romanian public administration, from 2017-2020. The results of our research show that ministries have made progress in ensuring administrative transparency. However, administrative transparency remains a challenge for Romanian government ministries. The results obtained are useful and interesting for both the field of knowledge and for ministries to help them identify ways to increase transparency for better democratic governance.

Romanian Public Administration. Identity Elements

The study reflects the specific identity elements of Romanian public administration. The starting point of the study is represented by the considerations and remarks on state and public administration, advancing with the analysis on administrative organization and administrative action.

Corporate Governance in the Digital world

Abstract Modeling a process of digitized recruitment and selection of the future members of the Board of Directors of Public Enterprises, where several models of software programs secured and adapted to the needs of the Public Administration, such as be DM Software (decision making software), oriented towards Corporate Governance with a view to transparent and decentralize the recruitment and selection process will be developed. At the international level, there is a tendency of intense digitization, affecting the area of recruitment beyond the initial stage, reaching the development of specialized recruitment software through algorithms to determine the best solutions and eliminate the human factor from the process. The best way to select the right software is to set up a digital recruitment process that tests new solutions based technologies in order to implement innovative services.Adding a new selection way, in order to elaborate an optimal composition of the governing bodies, a well-known method of selection is the RACI matrix method, offering diversity elements and strategic requirements, for the members of the Board, introducing the electronic selection and applying the criteria for an algorithm which will obtain the best score. This innovation brought to light, is not only limited to the digitization of the recruitment of the future members of the Boards of Public Enterprises, instead we want to bring profound changes in the application of the framework of corporate governance until the end, introducing a new initial stage in the process. The proposal in this direction provides for a new initial stage in the recruitment process, namely the Waiting List. In the romanian public administration, the recent progress has contributed to the improvement of the legal and regulatory framework against abuse, which is why I proposed to bring to the fore the importance of studying this area, adding value, by studying the possibility of adopting new tools for the public sector in Romania, support mechanisms, simple, uncompromising, completing the digitalization process in public sector. Is this transposition in the digital environment of a service outsourced by the state in order to fight corruption? Is this methodology ultimately effective? In the simplest way, digitization involves transforming any information from analog to digital. Digitalization is inevitable, we are witnessing a change in society, and the world we know today, over the next few years, it will not look the same. In this way, we get to wonder: we embrace digitalization and try to get as many benefits from the process or reject it, leaving us overwhelmed by this tendency.The transition from the classical methods of recruiting and selection process, to the digitalization of the entire processes regarding corporate governance, is bringing the actual transformation of the system, of recruitment of the future members of the Boards of the public enterprises, such a revolution of the public authorities, which are currently in charge of this endeavor, has as a consequence the shaping of the future of public administration, a model that is almost completely different from the one we know today.

On the re-institutionalization and diversification of Public Administration education in Central and Eastern Europe: A case study of post-communist Romania

The article provides a complementary view to those accounts of the growth of public administration education in post-communist Central and Eastern Europe that (a) explain its development primarily as a reflection of changes in administrative cultures while (b) emphasizing the ongoing process of curricular diversification. Rather, the article shifts the focus on the internal dynamics of higher education. It shows that the development of Romanian public administration education can be attributed, to a considerable extent, to unique opportunities arising in a period of post-communist re-institutionalization, of which enterprising academics ably took advantage. It further argues that, curricular variety notwithstanding, public administration departments in this country may be growing more alike in other respects. In so doing, the article contributes to an expansion of the traditional narrative of the growth of public administration education in post-communist Europe.

Leadership and resilience in Romanian public administration from county level

The present paper presents the results of a pilot study conducted in one county council from Romania (Neam? County Council) aiming to explore the civil servants’ perception of the leadership styles practiced by the top executives (Directors/General Directors/Deputy Executive Directors/Executive Directors), as well as about their capacity of building employees’ resilience. The research methodology consists of an opinion survey that was conducted using a questionnaire designed by the author. The research started from the theories of Burns (1978), Bass and Avolio (1985) about Transformational, Transactional, and Laissez-Faire leadership styles. The main objective is to investigate the potential relationship between leadership and civil servants’ resilience, considering a series of factors that could negatively influence civil servants' careers. The respondents were asked to express their opinion regarding the attitudes and behaviors of the studied leaders in 40 situations, aiming to observe which are the most exhibited leadership behaviors. Leaders’ capacity to build civil servants' resilience was measured from four perspectives: leaders' attitudes towards personal problems, leaders' attitudes towards professional issues, leaders' attitudes concerning financial issues affecting the institution, and the attitudes concerning management changes. The research revealed that the studied leaders exhibited mostly transformational behaviors, but also transactional characteristics, to a high extent. The results also showed that the top executives had a high capacity of building employees’ resilience being perceived as supportive and understanding leaders, who helped their subordinates to overpass the problematic moments from their careers. The research will be further continued in all Romanian County Councils with the purpose of studying civil servants’ resilience as an impact factor for public institutions' resilience.