The Ministry of Government Administration and Home Affairs (MOGAHA) is reorganizing its structure to something it is calling "headquarters / team system." The idea is that it is going to take the vertical seniority and rank system of traditional civil service and create horizontal competitive relationships as seen in private companies. It will be a whole new kind of challenge to the organizational system that has existed in the roughly 60 years since the government was established. Some are worried, but we hope the effort is successful and that it is the opportunity needed to put some energy into and transform the civil service, which has been criticized for being a "tin rice container" that cannot be penetrated.
The reorganization is happening to attain the kind of competitiveness that exists at private companies, turn a grade-centered civil service into one based on performance, and to build an organization that places priority on effectiveness and responsibility. The heads of the "headquarters" being created will be civil servants between grades 1 and 3, and the heads of the "teams" will be between grades 2 through 5. Sometimes, therefore, you could have a secretary grade team heads, Grade 2 team members, and other "destruction of rank." The heads of headquarters and team heads will have more authority in project determination, budget, and personnel, more so than the existing section and department directors. There will be more responsibility, as well, as in differentiating compensation according to performance.
One does worry that officials might feel a loss of morale. However, increasing efficiency by boldly reducing the phases in decision-making and separating job status from responsibility is the unavoidable trend. Currently the civil service organization makes it hard to assess performance, and when it comes to efficiency and liability it is lacking in "customer satisfaction." It is significant that this is happening at MOGAHA, a most typical of bureaucratic organizations. Other government ministries and provincial governments that are trying to renovate will be watching. We hope that by being true to its system of "team building" the new structure does not become something that exists only in name. It will be important that team heads are chosen impartially and that there is a well established system of performance assessment.
The Hankyoreh, 17 March 2005.
[Translations by Seoul Selection (PMS)]
[Editorial] MOGAHA's Structural Reorganization |
