Information Technology and the Organization Chart of Public Administration

To a certain extent the organization chart of public administration is inspired by the doctrines which are offered by public administration science. Some of these doctrines relate to policy implementation and the design of implementing agencies. In this chapter three of these main doctrines are discussed and confronted with the introduction of information technology: the separation of politics and administration, the separation of policy preparation and policy implementation and the routinization of policy implementation. These main doctrines have led to specific structures within public administration. When implementation is automated by means of information technology, these structures may change considerably. Some of the organizational transformations are illustrated in this chapter. It is argued that the structural transformation of public administration raises new questions with regard to some of the traditional doctrines. These doctrines have to be reinvestigated, reassessed, and maybe even restated in view of the automated implementation of public policy.