Modernizing Public Management: The Legislative Perspective
Written on June, 2021
Digital Government and Transparency
The digital era has significantly influenced public management, demanding transparency, clarity, and easier access to information. The call for a more digital government aligns with the present-day requirements of the populace. Moreover, this digital transformation has spurred the first subnational state in the world to create a program for accessing economic data from Brazil, which provides essential resources for local economic development programs. This has set a precedent for other regions, underlining the transformative potential of digital government practices.
The Challenges of Knowledge-Based Economy
In the 21st century, the shift towards a knowledge-based economy has imposed new responsibilities on public managers. This transition calls for support for entrepreneurial ventures, particularly startups, while also fostering partnerships with civil society and third-sector organizations. These relationships provide alternative avenues for the provision of public services linked to essential policies in areas like health, education, and public security. Moreover, such partnerships can facilitate economic sector collaboration in infrastructure and development promotion.
The Role of Public Managers in the Digital Age
Public management, while a challenging task, can be enhanced with digital tools. This requires creativity, responsibility, serenity, and, most importantly, a significant degree of common sense. Decision-making processes need to be grounded in objective technical criteria and regular checks for technical, legal, and moral soundness. Analyzing the potential results and consequences of these decisions, particularly for the most vulnerable populations, is essential. Thus, the ideal public manager should blend technical knowledge, an understanding of the digital government, and social sensitivity.
Legislative Activity in the Modern Era
While the responsibilities of public managers and legislators differ, both roles must evolve to meet the demands of the modern era. Legislators are tasked with developing laws and conducting oversight, but their responsibilities do not end there. They must also anticipate future needs and ensure that legislative issues align with modern societal needs. This includes areas such as legal security and alternative modes of public service provision, such as municipal consortiums and alternative conflict resolution mechanisms to prevent excessive judicialization.
Economic Entrepreneurship and Social Inclusion
Another important aspect of modern public management is supporting economic entrepreneurship and promoting social inclusion. This includes involving popular collegiate bodies in public decisions and exploring alternative forms of public administration. Recently approved laws, such as the mentoring law and the coordinated decision law, highlight the need for creativity and daring in legislative activity, always coupled with a sense of responsibility.
Public Management and Infrastructure Development
Legislative initiatives can play a crucial role in promoting infrastructure development and providing more legal certainty. For instance, the recent bidding law represents a significant advancement in the Brazilian legal landscape, indicating the potential for similar developments in other regions.
Citizen Participation and Technological Advancement
Modern public management must also harness new technologies and forms of citizen participation. Technological tools can facilitate near real-time legislative process monitoring and enable more direct communication with the populace. This means that legislation must be creative and innovative, but it should also retain the social sensitivity that is a cornerstone of public service.
In conclusion, modernizing public management involves embracing digital transformation, fostering economic entrepreneurship, promoting social inclusion, and leveraging legislative activity. By doing so, we can ensure a more effective and responsive public management system that meets the needs of the 21st-century citizen.