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ABSTRACT
The reorganization of government agencies can be studied as a pre-reform process in terms of the structural changes made, or as a post-reform process in terms of the effects of the reorganization. In this study of two mergers of agencies in China’s central administration, we focus on structural features and the post-merger process, paying special attention to structural and cultural integration. Our qualitative analyses reveal that the National Health and Family Planning Commission (NHFPC) is considered to have been more successful in merging agencies and integrating functions than the State Administration for Press, Publications, Radio, Film and Television (SAPPRFT). We found that using physical arrangements and leadership features as explanatory variables generated helpful theoretical and policy implications for organizational architecture and public sector reforms.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
An earlier version of this paper was presented at the International Public Management Network (IPMN) 2017 Conference, August 17–18, 2017, Shanghai, China. The authors would like to thank Jiannan Wu and Xueyong Zhan, among others, for helpful comments. We are also grateful for informative comments from the guest editors and three anonymous reviewers.
Notes
Wang, Qingying. The combination is not only about the name but also about the duties—an observation of the establishment of SAPPRFT. China Journalists, 2013-06-17, http://media. people. com.cn/n/2013/0617/c365259-21866984.html.
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Liang Ma
Liang Ma ([email protected]) is an Associate Professor at the School of Public Administration and Policy, Renmin University of China, China. He received his Ph.D. in management at the School of Management, Xi’an Jiaotong University. His current research examines performance feedback, goal setting, and strategic change in public organizations.
Tom Christensen
Tom Christensen ([email protected]) is a Professor of Public Administration and Policy at the Department of Political Science, University of Oslo, Norway. He is also senior researcher at the Stein Rokkan Centre, University of Bergen, and Visiting Professor at the School of Public Administration and Policy, Renmin University of China. His current research interests deal with comparative public sector reforms, especially questions related to accountability and reputation management.