<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<p>The paper addresses the issue of complexity in the administrative processes of public institutions: in particular, accounting routines and processes are examined. Back-office activities, although having a mere supporting role in the delivery of public services, absorb a relevant part of the resources of public institutions. The aim of the paper is to analyse the factors that contribute to the enhancement of complexity of these activities. The paper is based on an in-depth analysis of two Italian public organisations: a university and an ASP (agency for services to persons). Italy is an interesting context since simplification policies have been adopted in the country at central government level and in specific sectors of public administration, however, at the institutional level, simplification initiatives depend on the initiative of the single organisation. The cases described in this paper show that complexity stems from the need for inspectory controls (which is typical of the law) as well as from the volume of information requested (which is typical of management studies) for different stakeholders and at different, yet correlated, levels. The paper suggests that public management scholars have the opportunity and the burden of a contribution in this field.</p>
</abstract>

The paper addresses the issue of complexity in the administrative processes of public institutions: in particular, accounting routines and processes are examined. Back-office activities, although having a mere supporting role in the delivery of public services, absorb a relevant part of the resources of public institutions. The aim of the paper is to analyse the factors that contribute to the enhancement of complexity of these activities. The paper is based on an in-depth analysis of two Italian public organisations: a university and an ASP (agency for services to persons). Italy is an interesting context since simplification policies have been adopted in the country at central government level and in specific sectors of public administration, however, at the institutional level, simplification initiatives depend on the initiative of the single organisation. The cases described in this paper show that complexity stems from the need for inspectory controls (which is typical of the law) as well as from the volume of information requested (which is typical of management studies) for different stakeholders and at different, yet correlated, levels. The paper suggests that public management scholars have the opportunity and the burden of a contribution in this field.

The Simplification of Public Administration: A Managerial Perspective

Naše gospodarstvo/Our economy

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

{"article-title":"The Simplification of Public Administration: A Managerial Perspective"}

The paper addresses the issue of complexity in the administrative processes of public institutions: in particular, accounting routines and processes are...

The Simplification of Public Administration: A Managerial Perspective

Published Online: Apr 13, 2022

Page range: 64 - 76

Received: Jun 01, 2021

Accepted: Feb 01, 2022

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/ngoe-2022-0006

Keywords
simplification, support activities, processes, public administration, stakeholders

© 2022 Guido Modugno et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

The Simplification of Public Administration: A Managerial Perspective

Published Online: Apr 13, 2022

Page range: 64 - 76

Received: Jun 01, 2021

Accepted: Feb 01, 2022

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/ngoe-2022-0006

Keywordssimplification, support activities, processes, public administration, stakeholders

© 2022 Guido Modugno et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
simplification, support activities, processes, public administration, stakeholders