Institutional Contexts of the Implementation of Quality Initiatives in the Public Sectors of Finland and Lithuania

• Authors: Remigijus Civinskas , Mindaugas Kaselis
• Languages of publication: EN

Abstracts

EN

This article reports the results of research of public service quality reform initiatives in Lithuania and Finland. Research reveals that quality management has been in vogue within the manufacturing sectors of both countries for several decades. The service industries have made heavy investments in this area. There are also major initiatives from the public sector to improve quality. This paper examines and compares the development of reform conceptions and programmes in terms of institutional interest and power positions. It demonstrates that the initiation and progress of reform initiatives were determined by particular unforeseen and accidental circumstances in both countries. On the other hand, it explains why Finnish institutions were ready for a constructive dialogue, and a pilot try-outs option in implementation or reform instruments. Lithuanian institutions, by comparison, are characterized by the creation of new structures and self-seeking interests. Finally, the paper reveals how the instruments of public service quality improvement were implemented in both countries.

Keywords

EN

Public Quality Management; Public Service Reform; Institutionalism; Change in Public Organizations

• Publisher: Sciendo
• Journal: Baltic Journal of Law & Politics
• Year: 2009
• Volume: 2
• Issue: 2
• Pages: 74-102

Dates

published

2009-01-01

online

2010-01-21

Contributors

author

Remigijus Civinskas

• Faculty of Political science and Diplomacy, Vytautas Magnus University, Lithuania

author

Mindaugas Kaselis

• Faculty of Political science and Diplomacy, Vytautas Magnus University, Lithuania

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Identifiers

DOI

10.2478/v10076-009-0012-x