Elaborations from the article entitled
Good Governance and Development:, A Critical Analysis of The Relationship
- The Public Sector
- The Private Sector (Business Sector)
- Civil Society
THE PUBLIC SECTOR
Is the principal actor of
government and a strong entity that recognizes the significance and autonomy of
the other sectors without overwhelming them.
To get to an efficient, effective
and accountable public sector requires the following characteristics :
Ø
Meritocratic process of recruitment, training,
and career promotion, these processes are based on technical qualifications,
expertise, and formal education, skills, conduct, experience and knowledge.
Ø
Hierarchical and centralized decision-making
authority within large scale organizational structure allowing effective
processes of Government oversight, decisions making, and political
accountability .
Functional Specialization
Functional specialization refers
to the clear definition and assignment of roles, responsibilities, and benefits
for officials within an organization or government. This concept ensures that
each official has a specific set of duties and obligations, which are
accompanied by fixed salaries, pensions, and ranks. The key elements of
functional specialization include:
- Clearly Specified Roles: Each official knows
exactly what their job entails, which helps in avoiding overlaps and
confusion. This clarity enhances efficiency and accountability.
- Fixed Salaries and Pensions: Officials receive
predetermined compensation and retirement benefits, which provide
financial stability and security. This also helps in attracting and
retaining qualified personnel.
- Ranks: The hierarchical structure within the
organization or government is well-defined, with each official holding a
specific rank. This structure facilitates clear lines of authority and
communication.
- Duties and Obligations: The responsibilities
of each official are explicitly stated, ensuring that everyone understands
their role in achieving the organization's or government's objectives.
Standardized Procedures
Standardized procedures involve
the use of formal and impersonal rules, written regulations, and legal codes to
guide actions and decisions within an organization or government. These
procedures are designed to ensure consistency, equality, and impartiality in
the treatment of all citizens and employees. The key elements of standardized
procedures include:
- Transparent Rules: The rules and regulations
are clear and accessible to everyone, promoting transparency and trust in
the system.
- Formal Regulations: Written regulations
provide a formal framework for decision-making and actions, reducing the
likelihood of arbitrary or biased decisions.
- Impersonal Rules: The rules are applied
uniformly, without favoritism or discrimination, ensuring that all
individuals are treated equally.
- Legal Codes: Legal codes establish the legal
foundation for actions and decisions, providing a basis for accountability
and justice.
Importance of These Concepts
- Efficiency and Effectiveness: Functional
specialization and standardized procedures contribute to the efficient and
effective functioning of an organization or government. Clear roles and
standardized processes minimize confusion and streamline operations.
- Accountability and Transparency: These
concepts promote accountability and transparency by ensuring that
officials are aware of their responsibilities and that actions are guided
by clear, formal rules.
- Fairness and Equality: Standardized procedures
ensure that all individuals are treated fairly and equally, fostering
trust and confidence in the system.
- Stability and Predictability: Fixed salaries,
pensions, and clear regulations provide stability and predictability for
officials and citizens alike, contributing to a well-ordered and stable
society.
THE PRIVATE SECTOR
The state is a big force for
development, but it is not the only one. Most states recognize that the private
sector is the primary source of opportunities for productive employment, and
private enterprise must be encouraged and supported to be more competitive and
transparent by:
Ø
Creating a stable macroeconomic environment.
Ø
Maintaining competitive markets.
Ø
Ensuring that the poor (especially women) have
easy access to credit.
Ø
Attracting investment and helping to transfer
knowledge and technologies, particularly to the poor individuals.
CIVIL SOCIETY
Citizens’ rights should be
protected by civil society, as well as organizations channel people’s
participation on economic and social activities and organize them into more
powerful groups to influence public policies and gain access to public
resources, especially for the poor. Checks and balances on government power
could be provided and social abuses could be monitored.