Semi-autonomous Agencies Research Articles

Navigating conflicting expectations in addressing healthcare scarcity: a q-methodology study on the Dutch National Health Care Institute.

In many European countries, semi-autonomous agencies have been created in health policy to safeguard general public interests. In executing their tasks, these agencies need to deal with conflicting expectations. Particularly avoiding the risk of regulatory capture and aligning with parent ministries are frequently studied challenges, even more so when complex issues such as scarcity are at stake. In this paper, we use q-methodology to provide a thorough overview of the debate regarding the role of an important agency in the Dutch healthcare system; the National Health Care Institute (Zorginstituut Nederland). We conducted 41 q-interviews with agency employees, evaluators, regulatees, ministry employees, health policy experts, members of its advisory committees, and peer agencies. We identify three viewpoints on what the agency should focus on. These are on societally relevant issues, strict package management, and efficient organisation of care. In doing so, our study shows how agencies are pulled in different directions by conflicting expectations. We show that this can be problematic because it complicates a clear role of the agency that allows addressing such issues. We thereby contribute to theories on agencies' complex relations with their external environment such as regulatory capture, tripartism, reflexive regulation, legal boundaries, and stewardship theory.

Smokeless Tobacco in Uganda: Perceptions among Tobacco Control Stakeholders.

The use and sale of smokeless tobacco (SLT) is prohibited in Uganda under the Tobacco Control Act (TCA), 2015. Nonetheless, SLT products remain available, and there are limited and inconsistent data on SLT users. Additionally, the perceptions of tobacco control stakeholders on SLT are unknown, making it difficult to determine barriers to enforcing the ban. This study examined perceptions of tobacco control stakeholders regarding SLT in Uganda. Qualitative semi-structured interviews were conducted with stakeholders who were purposively selected from ministries, semi-autonomous government agencies and Civil Society Organizations. Interviews explored knowledge, attitudes, perceptions of SLT appeal, and user demographics. Data were analysed using Nvivo V.12 software. Participants demonstrated a general lack of awareness of SLT product types and the extent of their use. They believed SLT use was increasing among females and minors and was as harmful to health and the economy as smoking. SLT products were thought to be cheaper than cigarettes and to appeal to minors. Discreet use was thought to help users overcome the cultural aversion towards tobacco use among women and youth in Uganda. There is an urgent need to strengthen the implementation of the SLT ban whilst also increasing efforts to reduce tobacco smoking.

Accounting standards for semi-autonomous agencies: Experiences and lessons from Indonesia

The adoption of accrual accounting in government agencies has been so widespread. Following the global trend, Indonesian administration has implemented governmental accounting standards for its agencies. This study aims to explain accounting standards in the context of agencification, i.e. the use of semi-autonomous agencies to deliver public services. The paper explores formulation and implementation of accounting standards by investigating case studies from semi-autonomous agencies in Indonesia. The data were collected through semi-structured interviews with agency officials, policymakers, standards-setters, and experts. The results were analyzed through an inductive-deductive approach. The study shows that whilst accrual accounting has stimulated fundamental change on financial reporting in the agencies, thus dual accounting standards at the beginning of the adoption is considered unnecessary by agency managers, policymakers, and standard-setter. The research also finds a constraint in the accounting system design that could hinder agencies to improve their financial reporting.

Global reform meets local context: cultural compatibility and practice adoption in public sector reform

PurposeThe paper proposes that public sector organizations facing institutionalized reform pressure may not only integrate the reform into their operation when it fits but also pace the integration while undergoing organizational cultural transformations to fit with the reform. The newly cultivated cultural characteristics, nonetheless, need to be compatible externally with the ideational basis of the reform and internally with existing values and beliefs embodied by the organizations.Design/methodology/approachBuilding on a neo-institutionalist perspective, the paper develops a model which considers the possibilities and conditions that local cultural change in the reforming organizations may facilitate reform integration. To test the model's analytical potential, the paper analyzed reform responses of semi-autonomous agencies from Denmark, the Netherlands and Sweden under the New Public Management (NPM) reform. Ordinary least square (OLS) regression models were performed on the survey data collected from agency heads (or representative) during the peak of the reform trend. Analyzing this sample of later adopters whose government generally enjoyed high degrees of capacity and autonomy provided a preliminary test to the model's potential.FindingsSignificant statistical relations were found between the adoption of operation-level NPM practices and the extent that an agency's cultural characteristics fit with both the ideational basis of NPM and the exiting value-belief mix the agency embodied. Agency characteristics of “proactive responsiveness” and “goal-oriented cooperation” were found significantly related to adoption of NPM practices, showing the possibility of cultivating local cultural changes in reforming organizations.Originality/valueWhile compatible with neo-institutionalist emphasis on local continuity, the paper describes an alternative scenario of reform integration for public managers.

The “Trilemma” of Public Bodies: Bureaucratic Structures Versus Agencies Under Policy Conditionality

The aim of this article is to explore the implications of the delegation of powers from central bureaucracies to semi-autonomous agencies for public administration under policy conditionality. Focusing on Greece, we argue that agencification reforms that were introduced during the economic adjustment programs (2010–2018) have changed the role of the administrative apparatus in policy-making and implementation. Based on two exemplary case studies, tax administration and state assets management, the empirical findings illustrate the political dynamics that induced organizational transformation and show how policy conditionality has changed the domestic agencification pattern and has rebalanced the institutional, functional, and democratic dimensions of agencies.

The role of various governmental and non-governmental machinery in the elimination of inequalities faced by Kenyan women and the empowerment of women in Kenya

This paper examines the role and contributions of various governmental machinery like the constitution, legislation reforms and policies and semi autonomous governmental agencies in the elimination of inequalities faced by Kenyan women and the empowerment of women in Kenya. It discusses various provisions enshrined in the constitution, parliamentary acts and policies that promote the status of women in Kenya and further looks at the role played by grassroots community-based organisations, with a focus on women self-help groups. It further examines the contributions of national non-governmental organisations, towards achievement of gender equality and empowerment of women in Kenya.

Mixed Feelings? Comparing the Effects of Perceived Red Tape and Job Goal Clarity on HRM Satisfaction and Organizational Commitment Across Central Government, Government Agencies, and Businesses

In the past decades, increasing attention in the public sector has been paid to the relationship between human resource management (HRM) practices and organizational commitment. The bureaucratic structure of public organizations has often been mentioned to have a negative impact on this relationship. To reduce red tape and increase goal clarity, governments worldwide have created semi-autonomous agencies that operate at arm’s length, expecting that they would operate under more business-like conditions with positive effects on organizational commitment. In this study, these positive expectations were tested using groups of employees working at central government, two types of agencies, and businesses. Using multigroup structural equation modeling with a Dutch data set containing 2,432 respondents, the findings provide little support for the notion that agencies are similar to businesses in terms of bureaucracy and ways to stimulate employee commitment, and even indicate that some agencies are more bureaucratic than central government.

HRM philosophies and policies in semi-autonomous agencies: identification of important contextual factors

abstract Although a contextual perspective in HRM research has been strongly advocated, empirical evidence on how context shapes HRM is still lacking. This study explored HRM philosophies and policies in Dutch semi-autonomous government agencies and how they are shaped. These agencies were given considerable autonomy by central government with regard to their HRM philosophies and policies in order to make more effective use of their human capital. Based on our findings from thirty semi-structured interviews with HRM managers, we identified that (a) facilitation philosophies are dominant, while accumulation philosophies are less present and utilization philosophies nonexistent; (b) mixed philosophies are present in some cases; (c) ability- and motivation-enhancing policies are dominant, while opportunity-enhancing policies are less present; (d) similarities in HRM are strongly shaped by external factors; and that (e) differences in HRM are strongly shaped by internal factors.

How Creating Semiautonomous Agencies Affects Staff Satisfaction

Structural reforms such as the creation of autonomous agencies are a widely heralded solution for a multitude of problems in the public sector. These reforms have effects on public employees. This article shows how the structural disaggregation of ministries into autonomous agencies affects staff satisfaction with the organization. The article discusses three cases, where Dutch public organizations were either disaggregated from a ministry or reaggregated to the ministry. These structural reforms constitute a quasiexperimental setting where effects on agency staff and parent ministry staff are compared. In one case, creating the agency led to a decrease in staff satisfaction with the organization as compared to the staff that remained within the ministry. A second case showed that these negative effects linger and can last for more than eight years. An inverse organizational change—reaggregation—caused inverse effects: increasing satisfaction with the organization.

Municipal health services provision by local governments: a systematic review of experiences in decentralized Sub-Saharan African countries.

'Four' types of decentralization are distinguished in health care: deconcentration when the shift in authority is to regional or district offices; devolution when the shift is to state, provincial or municipal governments; delegation when semi-autonomous agencies are granted new powers; and privatization when ownership is granted to private entities. This article systematically reviews the experiences of local governments of Sub-Saharan African countries with the provision of health services during and after decentralization reforms. The article highlights the achievements, challenges and issues associated with decentralization. The review shows that most countries have mainly focused on the process by enacting numerous policies, regulations and standards with mixed outcomes for health services delivery. Decentralization in general, and resource transfer from the central to local governments in particular, are a highly political issue that influences the health reform strategy on decentralization. The literature shows the complexity of implementing decentralization schemes which strongly impact the health service organization and delivery. The theory of decision space applied in a comparative analysis found that some functions, particularly financing, remain under the control of the central state. Despite the numerous challenges, this review identifies some good practices in resources transfer, key determinants being the type of decentralization and the government's will to make legislative and administrative changes required for the effectiveness of decentralization. The literature search, even though systematic, resulted in a limited number of relevant publications with evidence on the link between decentralization and health services delivery. This is a largely unexplored research area, especially the use of financial resources by local governments, the factors that drive local decision-making processes and the effects of decentralization on health care sector performance.

Political Control of Arm’s-Length Agencies: One Standard Does Not Fit All

ABSTRACTThe increased use of semi-autonomous agencies for the delivery of government services has often been criticized for leading to a loss of political control. In the Netherlands, the debate is most strong regarding the so-called ZBOs, which are agencies that produce unilaterally binding legal decisions. Based on data from secondary sources and interviews, an assessment was made of the level and type of controls of 11 ZBOs. Results show that political controls are stronger than expected, negatively affecting ZBOs’ autonomy. Also, there is large variety in the application of uniform guidelines. We introduce a citizen demand perspective of services as a new tool for the explanation of variety in control. This tool, together with political saliency and the legal status of ZBOs, has an impact on the actual levels of control.

Agencification and Public Sector Performance: A systematic comparison in 20 countries

The increased establishment of semi-autonomous agencies in most countries from the 1980s on has been justified by claims of expected improvement in public sector performance. Empirical research to test these claims has been scarce, based on single cases and showing mixed results. This study tests these claims at the macro level in twenty countries using a range of indicators and variables. Overall, we find a negative effect of agencification on both public sector output and efficiency. This refutes the economic claims about agencification.

Effect Of Reward Systems On Employees’ Achievement Of Targets In The Semi-Autonomous Government Agencies

Employee reward systems refer to programs set up by an organization to reward performance and motivate employees on individual and/or group levels. This study was guided by basic salary, training opportunities, health benefits and house allowance as specific objectives in establishing the effects of employee reward system on the achievement of targets of semi-autonomous government agencies in Migori Sub-County. The study is expected to increase knowledge and understanding in this area by assisting the Kenya Government through Public Service Commission of Kenya in formulating and implementing policies that would lead to a fair reward system for public servants and therefore improving efficiency and effectiveness in staff performance. This research adopted survey design. The target population was 74 employees working in the three semi-autonomous agencies in Migori Sub-County. The sample size of 43 was drawn from the target population of employees in the authorities. This was 58% of the entire population of employees in the three authorities in Migori Sub-County. Data was collected by the use of document analysis and questionnaires. Data was analyzed by the use of computer aided data analysis software SPSS and Statpages. Presentation of data was done by the use of tables, bar graphs, line graphs and percentages. Descriptive statistics and correlation was used to compare the means of monthly earnings for different payrolls and also to establish the strength between dependent variables and independent variable. Findings in this study indicate that basic salary, house allowance and health benefits have very strong influence on employee performance as compared to the moderate influence that training had on their performance. The report recommends the harmonization of schemes of service within departments/ministries so that every individual is rewarded appropriately and fairly in order to improve employee performance.

Does task matter? The effect of task on the establishment, autonomy and control of semi-autonomous agencies

The task of agencies is often considered to be an important determinant of agency design, autonomy, governance and control. The evidence for these expectations has, however, been limited so far. Moreover, there are several problems with the ‘task-variable’. There is no clear definition, agencies often perform multiple tasks, and as task is a nominal variable there are restrictions on the use of statistical techniques. Two questions arise: does task matter and does it matter how task is measured? Using survey data on Dutch agencies ( N = 206), several expectations are tested with different techniques. Overall, some tasks have some effect on agency autonomy and control, however, often only indirectly and not sustained in multivariate analyses. Formal autonomy and budget are more decisive than task in explaining agency autonomy and control. Analysis with dummy variables offers better opportunities to test task effects than non-parametrical tests. Researchers should use multiple task categories in future analyses instead of simple dichotomies, not only because agencies perform multiple tasks but also because specific tasks have specific effects.Points for practitionersAgencies have multiple tasks in different combinations. This should be taken into account when designing agencies' degrees of autonomy and control. There are no straightforward relations between task and autonomy or control. The type of agency and the size of its budget are most decisive to agency autonomy and control.

The Differential Empowering Effects of Europeanization on the Autonomy of National Agencies

This article examines the influence of Europeanization on the relationship between ministries and agencies at the national level. The core argument is that the differentiated nature of the international environment (with policy development often transferred to the international level and policy implementation left at the national level) transforms national agencies into policy‐developing actors that shape policies without being directly influenced by their national political principals. The increasingly common involvement of national agencies in European policymaking processes thereby increases these agencies' policy‐development autonomy but does not change their role in policy implementation. We examine this argument by testing an innovative hypothesis—the differentiation hypothesis—on a combined data set of German and Dutch national agencies. Our empirical findings support the hypothesis in both countries, suggesting that similar effects can be expected in other contexts in which semiautonomous agencies are involved in transnational policymaking.

Resisting governmental control: how semi-autonomous agencies use strategic resources to challenge state coordination

Institutional pressure caused by public sector reform leads to strategic reactions from semi-autonomous agencies. Agencies in the Netherlands and France only complied with a selection of imposed reforms. Other rules were manipulated, not complied with, or compromises were made. The degree of compliance with reforms is not only dependent on structural aspects, but also on resources and power distributions between the actors. A comparison is made between the introduction of the Dutch Kaderwet ZBO and the French Révision Générale des Politiques Publiques. These agency reforms are contested between ministries, rather than between agency and parent ministry alone. Parent ministries tend to side with their agencies in both countries. In the Netherlands, power-related issues were most debated, whereas in France money-related issues caused most disagreement.Points for practitionersReforms targeted at agencies are likely to meet resistance if agencies do not agree with the proposed rules, especially if they alter existing power relations. Some agencies possess certain resources which they can apply strategically to offer resistance to reforms. Parent ministries tend to side with agencies in their sector and try to protect them from other ministries.

Tax Collection in Developing Countries – New Evidence on Semi-Autonomous Revenue Agencies (SARAs)

Over the last two decades, semi-autonomous revenue agencies (SARAs) have become a key element of public administration reform. They are supposed to improve revenue mobilisation and stabilise state–taxpayer relations. But do SARAs really outperform conventional tax administrations? This article argues that they do. Presenting the results of a panel analysis of local tax collection in Peru between 1998 and 2011, it shows that municipalities with SARAs collect more revenue than those with conventional tax administrations. The results also indicate that local revenue is more stable in municipalities with SARAs, which is good for budget policy and planning.

Texas water wars: how politics and scientific uncertainty influence environmental flow decision-making in the Lone Star state

In 2007, Texas passed Senate Bill (SB) 3 mandating formation of science and stakeholder committees to make recommendations on the environmental flows (e-flows) needed to maintain the ecological integrity of river basins through a collaborative process designed to achieve consensus. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), the state agency that issues water rights permits, was to promulgate these rec- ommendations and develop e-flow rules. For the first two basins to complete the SB3 process, the Sabine and Neches Basins and Sabine Lake Bay and the Trinity and San Jacinto Basins and Galveston Bay, final e-flow rules did not mimic a natural flow regime, rather, only subsistence flows, one level of base flows, and low flow pulses at a limited number of sites were adopted. In this article, I describe why the SB3 process was derailed for these basins. Science and stakeholder committees were skewed with more members representing short-term economic than ecological and recreational interests in freshwater. Many individuals on the science and stakeholder committees worked for river authorities, semiautonomous state agencies that receive the majority of their funding from surface water sales, and consulting firms that regularly contract with the river authorities. Water rights holders were from the outset distrustful of the SB3 process. There was a high degree of uncertainty associated with e-flow science, and adaptive management was used as justification for making low e-flow recommendations. In the end, TCEQ set environmental flow rules at levels lower than those recommended for protection of environmental benefits by the science teams.

Tax Collection in Developing Countries – New Evidence on Semi-Autonomous Revenue Agencies (SARAs)

Do semi-autonomous revenue agencies (SARAs) outperform conventional tax administrations? This paper argues that they do. Presenting the results of a panel analysis of local tax collection in Peru between 1998 and 2011, it shows that municipalities with SARAs collect more revenue than those with conventional tax administrations. In line with findings from previous research, the effect is particularly strong in the first two years of operation, but remains significantly positive in subsequent years, after a brief accommodation period. The results also indicate that SARAs generate more stable revenue, meaning that revenue volatility is less pronounced in municipalities with SARAs, which is good for budget policy and planning.

Review of Politiques publiques. 1, La France dans la gouvernance européenne, edited by Olivier Borraz and Virginie Guiraudon

An ambitious new book, Politiques publiques. 1, La France dans la gouvernance europeenne, edited by Olivier Borraz and Virginie Guiraudon, offers an empirically rich and theoretically reflective response to questions concerning the impact on national policymaking and administration of growing inter-state cooperation, the sharing of decisional authority within the European Union and the delegation of regulatory responsibilities to semi-autonomous agencies at home. It investigates where, with internationalisation and Europeanisation, policy is made and by whom, who decides and to whom they are accountable, and what has become of the French model. Avoiding the dogmatism that characterises debates about globalisation and Europeanisation, the book provides a detailed, well-informed and accessible overview of policy and policy-making in a large and singular EU member state.