New public management, ethics and accountability: the case of Addis Ababa city administration, Ethiopia
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Date
2017-09
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
This thesis investigates Civil Service Reform Programs (CSRPs) in the context of New Public Management (NPM) and examines how they are associated with accountability and ethics in Addis Ababa City Administration (AACA). In the early 1990s, Ethiopian government has introduced change in its public administration through CSRPs. Despite the efforts made, no comprehensive research has been conducted to examine the nature and characteristics of the reform programs in the context of NPM. Besides, Ethics and accountability were identified as important areas that require redress by the government. However, despite the reform efforts, thorough academic research was not done to understand ethics and accountability practices and challenges in AACA. Moreover, adequate empirical research has not been done on the relationship between ethics and accountability with NPM. Therefore, this study was aimed at analyzing the CSRPs in AACA in the context of NPM and examining empirically how accountability and ethics were associated with NPM. In order to achieve the objectives of this study, mixed research approach was employed. In identification and selection of subjects of the study, multi-stage proportionate sampling and purposive sampling techniques were used. Data were collected from both primary and secondary sources using questionnaire aided by semi-structured interview, and through observation and analysis of different kind of documents. The researcher utilized mainly statistical techniques such as Spearman Correlation Coefficient, Ordinal Regression for the quantitative data and Thematic and Content Analysis methods for the qualitative data respectively. The findings provided comprehensive assessment of the nature and characteristics of the reform programs in AACA within the framework of NPM. It showed that five elements of Hood‘s NPM model which include explicit standards and measures of performances, emphasis on output controls, competition, the private style of management, and discipline and parsimony in resource use are applied in AACA. The study revealed that accountability and ethics association with NPM was found to be positive. Besides, NPM impacts accountability and ethics in a positive way though it is insignificant. Nonetheless, the outcome of the study indeed proved lack of firm political commitment and support from the bureaucracy, inadequate material and financial resources, lack of qualified personnel, and absence of adequate monitoring and follow up from the reform leading institutions as important problems in the course of practicing NPM in AACA. Furthermore, accountability deficits and unethical practices such as violation of the rule of law, partiality, and corruption and theft were identified in the city administration. Lack of determination of leaders and employees to do away with unethical practices, poor implementation of ethical principles, and absence of enforceable ethical code of conduct are some of the major predicaments that are impeding the betterment of ethics in AACA. Also, low citizen participation, absence of appropriate rewards and sanctions, and undermining accountability institutions are the important challenges in fostering accountability in AACA.
Description
A Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment for the Degree of
Doctor of philosophy in public management and policy
The Department of Public Administration and Development Management
Keywords
Accountability, Civil Service Reform Programs, Ethics, New Public Management