A. Structures and processes in administrative reform: the importance of commitment and leadership for successful reform

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1 call for papers and stories to share Administrative reform is part of governments everywhere and a main concept for the improvement of administration of a country. The experiences of some countries show that administrative reform is a decisive step in achieving progress. In most states that have transitioned to developed countries, administrative reform is the first step and priority in development. Public administration is indeed a critical instrument of progress. Through administrative reform, systems of governance are not only effective and efficient but also serve as the backbone of nations. Administrative reforms in developed countries are generally conducted through two strategies: (1) revitalize the position, role and function of the motor of institutional reform of the administration, and (2) restructure the administrative system of the country both in terms of structure, process, human resources (public servants) and the relation between state and society. Administrative reform, therefore, is in line with efforts to modernize public administration. Learning from the experience of several countries, the success of nation-building lies in revitalizing state administration. As discussed by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (2002), solutions of the past are no longer sufficient as society continues to change rapidly. Governments should learn to use reform in order to create institutions that can adapt to changes in their own societies as well as to change outside forces. In view of this fact, the Eastern Regional Organization for Public Administration (EROPA) Conference on Challenges to Administrative Reform: Learning from the Past and In Search of Excellence in the Future provides an excellent forum for the international community of public administrators to come together not only to share ideas and information accumulated over the years, but also to provide a sound knowledge base regarding their experiences in implementing administrative reform. The Conference aims to present new, contextual, and innovative strategies and approaches in administrative reform which can help governments achieve excellence in the future. The Organizing Committee for the EROPA Conference 2012 appreciates the importance of theory and practice in administrative reform. It is vital to establish and maintain a close linkage between the two. Therefore, in this conference, we solicit relevant articles, papers, or research works either as theoretical piece or practice-based output. In addition to articles and research papers, we are also initiating a Call for Stories to Share. This will enable practitioners to inspire and share their insights on their actual experiences as public administrators. To provide a substantive focus for the conference theme, three sub-themes have been selected: A. Structures and processes in administrative reform: the importance of commitment and leadership for successful reform B. Enhancing public trust and preventing corruption through fostering public values, ethics and accountability C. The role of ICT and innovation in administrative reform theme a: structures and processes in administrative reform: The importance of commitment and leadership for successful reform The difficulties countries face in terms of finding prompt solutions to problems is caused by insignificant political commitment and the lack of competence to carry out administrative reform. As exemplified in a variety of cases around the world, the success of administrative reform depends on commitment and national leadership. Strong political leadership is the most important factor for the success of administrative reform. Awareness toward the importance of administrative reform must come not only from the bureaucrats themselves but also from the political leaders. Leadership commitment is an essential prerequisite for the development of a strategy that can strengthen human capital that will in turn revitalize public administration. The revitalization of public administration depends on the commitment and determination of the political and administrative leadership. The content of administrative reform itself should cover structural reform, procedural reform, civil service reform and relations reform between the government and society. This panel will also be an excellent forum to discuss the forms of leadership traits required to implement administrative reform and the steps leaders take in carrying out meaningful reform. Sub-Themes: - The Politics of Administrative Reform: The Role of Commitment and Leadership - Trajectories of Administrative Reform: Institution, Organization, and Institutional Change - Building Support for Administrative Reform: Challenges and Opportunities theme b: enhancing public trust and preventing corruption through fostering public values, ethics and accountability Values, ethics and accountability are essential components of organizational culture. It is instrumental in determining, guiding and informing behavior. For bureaucracies, adherence to high-level public service values, ethics and accountability can generate substantial public trust and confidence. While the knowledge and understanding of public administration has evolved considerably over the past decades, the concepts of 'public service values', public service ethics, and public accountability remain fundamental in all aspects of government and administration. The important position of values, ethics, and accountability is very much in line with the objectives of administrative reform which include achieving accountability and transparency in public activities and ensuring good life for citizens. Administrative reform is a deliberate attempt to change both the structure and procedure of bureaucracies including the attitude and behavior of public servants who are involved in the promotion of organizational effectiveness. The outcomes of administrative reform contribute to the attainment of national development goals. This panel aims to become a venue for exchanging views and clarifying how values, ethics, accountability and administrative reform interact. The panel seeks to draw out the best practices/solutions in effectively promoting this interactive linkage. Sub-Themes: - Restoring Values and Ethics in Public Administration - Enhancing Public Trust, Transparency and Accountability in Public Administration - Administrative Reform and Preventing Corruption theme c: the role of ICT and innovation in administrative reform ICT Development through E-Government is expected to encourage administrative reforms by transforming government functions, streamlining procedures, and enhancing administrative transparency. E-government will bring more efficiency and effectiveness to governments through reducing costs and layers of organizational processes by reengineering and streamlining operating procedures. To be able to support the successful use of ICT in the implementation of administrative reforms, there are some factors which seem important from the perspective of the suppliers and the citizens. From the perspective of the suppliers (the supply side in economic terms): (1) the capacity for significant organizational change, the development of leadership skills; (2) a grasp of the distinction between hard (technological factors) and soft (human factors); (3) and an understanding of the differences in catering for the private and public sectors, and citizens in developed and developing nations need to be emphasized. From the perspective of citizens needs (the demand side in economic terms), it is important to stress vital factors such as transaction costs, cultural barriers (for example social exclusion caused by the problem of unequal access to the Internet), citizens expectations of government services and their degrees of acceptance for technological innovations, and possible mismatches between governmental and social uses of the Internet. The panel is expected to become an arena to discuss how the

2 role and practice of the use of ICT support the implementation of administrative reform and the preparations needed in optimizing the role of ICT. Sub-Themes: - Enhancing Public Convenience and Services Through E-government - Direction of the use of ICT in Supporting Administrative Reform - Improving Innovation Practices in Public Services stories to share: views from the frontlines 2012 Through the years, EROPA has managed to provide the region with knowledge and information about public administration and governance. Most of those insights come from the academic papers and researches of our distinguished academicians and experts. However, since the membership of EROPA is diverse, it is important to hear what the practitioners have to say. These are real-life, actual stories that are happening around the region in the realm of public administration and governance told from the point of view of those in the frontlines of governance. Stories to Share: Views from the Frontlines 2012 recognizes the power of stories in terms of sharing insights and providing inspiration to people in the field of public administration. In line with this year s theme (Challenges to Administrative Reform: Learning from the Past and In Search of Excellence in the Future) and sub-themes, EROPA is looking forward to receiving stories that have shown how administrative reform have been used to effect positive changes within a territory around the EROPA region. asian leadership forum The Asian Leadership Forum (ALF) is a platform for policy leaders in the Asia Pacific region to discuss important issues in Public Administration and Governance. This is a venue where ministers, vice-ministers, parliamentarians, governors, city mayors, etc. can share their respective views in the field. For the 3rd Asian Leadership Forum, the issue will focus on Leadership Role in Determining the Success of Administrative Reform. The forum will discuss the importance of leadership role for the success and sustainability of administrative reform. A number of academics, analysts and practitioners have been predicting that when leadership disappears, the sustainability of reform would be at risk. Thus, this discussion remains important in today s public administration and governance. The official EROPA Conference 2012 website will open on 01 May 2012, and pre-registration (online) will begin on 15 June The official website address is The registration fees will be as follows: EROPA Member USD 250 Non-EROPA Member USD 300 For each accompanying person USD 200 Registration should be paid in USD cash and will take place at the following venues on the following dates: Advance Registration Hotel Bidakara Jakarta, 28 October 2012, 1:00 pm 6:00 pm Regular Registration Hotel Bidakara Jakarta, 29 October 2012, 9:00 am 5:00 pm registration The 58th Executive Council Meeting (for Council Members only) will be held in the University of Indonesia on 28 October 2012 (Sunday), 4:00 pm 7:00 pm. The conference will be held on October 2012 at the Hotel Bidakara Jakarta and at the National Institute of Public Administration (NIPA). The halfday city tour will be held on 1 November Individual visas can be obtained from Indonesia Embassies or Consulates in respective countries. The organizing committee will extend an invitation to each participant upon completion of pre-registration. The organizers will arrange the transport of participants from the airport to the hotel. Only participants who indicate their flight details in advance are eligible for the free airport transfer. Banks are open from Monday to Friday, 8:00 am to 3:00 pm. Malls are open every day, 10:00 am to 9:00 pm. USD 1.00 is equivalent to 9,300 Indonesian Rupiah (IDR) as of April The temperature in Jakarta in October is usually degrees Celsius. venues visa requirements airport transfer business hours currency weather EROPA CONFERENCE 2012 Challenges to Administrative Reform: Learning from the Past and In Search of Excellence in the Future 28 October 1 November 2012 Jakarta, Indonesia AIDE MEMOIRE Hosted and Organized by: Administrative Sciences Department, University of Indonesia National Institute of Public Administration, Republic of Indonesia Eastern Regional Organization for Public Administration National College of Public Administration and Governance University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City 1101, Philippines

3 guidelines for paper presenters 1. The focus of the paper should be on best practices and innovations concerning the themes and subthemes 2. The length of the text of the paper should not exceed 20 pages (A4 size bond, double-spaced) 3. All papers should be accompanied by a one-page abstract 4. Each presenter is allocated 20 minutes for presentation. Questions from participants will be entertained during the open forum provided after each session 5. The references should be complete: name of author/s, publication year, title of the article/book/journal, place of publication, and publisher 6. Figures, graphs and tables should be included if necessary 7. Authors should submit their brief biographical sketch together with the abstract 8. Deadline for the submission of abstracts, papers, and Power- Point presentations: ABSTRACT on or before 18 August 2012 FINAL PAPER on or before 30 September 2012 POWERPOINT on or before 18 October 2012 Submissions should be made via to paper@eropa2012.org 9. The papers should follow the following structure in exact sequence: title of the paper, name of the author (s), abstract, main text, references, and/or appendices, if necessary 10. On the cover, the author should indicate the following information: Country, Title of Paper, Subtheme, Name and Designation of the Presenter (e.g. Mr., Ms., Dr., Prof., Prof. Dr., etc.), Institution or Agency, and Contact Information (i.e. mailing address, telephone and fax numbers, , and website). guidelines for storytellers Prerequisites 1. All stories must be written in English. 2. The story must be not less than 2,000 and not more than 5,000 words. 3. The content of the story must be in line with the conference theme and/or sub-themes. 4. The story must be true and the source verifiable. Sources and references for confirming the reliability of the story must be cited. 5. Pictures may form part of each story.

4 6. Only one story per individual. An individual may submit a story in behalf of an organization. 7. It must be submitted via to story@eropa2012.org on or before 14 September All entries must include a cover letter indicating the name and designation of the storyteller, company (government institution, NGO, etc.) he/she belongs with, and contact details (i.e. mailing address, telephone and fax numbers, , and website). Guidelines 1. Stories must be based on actual and real events. Names and other details may be changed when there is a need to protect the privacy of persons or organizations/institutions. However, such changes must not affect the essence of the story. 2. The text of the story may later be subjected to editing for time limitation. 3. The EROPA Secretariat will choose which authors will be given the opportunity to share the story during the upcoming EROPA conference. 4. Authors of stories that will be chosen are allocated minutes each for presentation. Authors may use a PowerPoint presentation to aid them in telling their stories. Questions from participants will be entertained during the open forum provided after each session. Authentication 1. EROPA and its partner organizations/institutions will use applicable means to confirm the authenticity and legitimacy of the stories, authors, and organizations. 2. EROPA and its partner organizations/institutions may disqualify an entry if it is found to be fictitious, or is of an unreliable source. 3. EROPA will exert best efforts to ensure the authenticity and legitimacy of the stories. Ownership 1. By participating in Stories to Share: Views from the Frontlines 2012, authors of the stories give EROPA and its partner organizations /institutions permission to publish and/or upload online their stories and accompanying pictures. 2. All information submitted must be true and accurate. 3. EROPA and its partner organizations/institutions reserve the right to disqualify any entry that it deems incredible. 4. Submitted stories should be original and previously unpublished.

5 accommodation and reservation Hotel Bidakara Jakarta The Organizer has negotiated with Hotel Bidakara Jakarta (4 Star Hotel) for accommodation. The discounted rate for EROPA participants is IDR 595,000 (USD 64). The rate includes use of either single- or twin-bed deluxe room per night, with breakfast for two persons, tax, service charge, free entry to the hotel fitness center and swimming pool, as well as free broadband Internet access in rooms. Participants are requested to contact Hotel Bidakara Jakarta directly for advanced booking of accommodation with reference to Universitas Indonesia and EROPA Conference. Hotel Bidakara Jakarta Jl. Jend. gatot Subroto Kav Pancoran, Jakarta Indonesia Tel. (+62-21) Fax. (+62-21) Website.

6 contact information The Indonesian Organizing Committee for EROPA Conference Administrative Sciences Department, University of Indonesia Kampus FISIP UI, Gedung M, Lantai 2, Depok INDONESIA Tel Fax (general information) (paper submission) (story submission) Website. Contact Person: Mr. Teguh Kurniawan Mr. Eko Sakapurnama The EROPA Secretariat National College of Public Administration and Governance Building, University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City 1101 PHILIPPINES Telefax Website. Contact Persons: Ms. Estrella Ocampo Ms. Maria Danielle Francesca Sebastian Mr. Ryan Advincula