Civil service

Gruppe diverser Menschen mit unterschiedlicher Arbeitskleidung.

Contact person

Head of Department

– Prof. Dr. Stephan Grohs

Phone: +49 6232 654-453

Focus on personnel who are able to maintain the transformational administration's capacity to act

The ability to act of a transformational administration hinges on its personnel. In terms of human resources, two key areas of capability are essential: Firstly, personnel must be able to fulfil new administrative tasks to a high standard in a task-related context; Secondly, they must be able to drive the necessary changes to the administration itself in a process-related context.

In order to enhance their ability to act and shape under conditions of uncertainty, public administrators, especially those in managerial positions, must adapt to rapidly changing environmental conditions and cultivate new or further develop existing competencies to a high degree.

To succeed in an ever-changing environment, we need the right tools – in the form of effective legislation and reliable resources. And we need the right people – in all areas. In short: more of the best talent serving the public!

Ulrich Silberbach, Chairman of the German Civil Service Federation (dbb), at the dbb annual conference on 8 January 2024 in Cologne

In order to ensure the effective fulfilment of future tasks, it is essential to match the skills required by public sector employees with the task portfolio. This applies to both recruitment and development. Tools need to be developed to make competencies measurable and embedded in a strategic approach. Solutions in this research area are being developed for this purpose.

The research fields covered in this research area

Text graphic with the four topic areas: Recruitment using public value strategies, Development of skills for transformation and digitalisation Working models for the public sector, Administrative culture and normative framework

Events

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Third Workshop: New Work in the Public Administration

“Satisfied with New Work? The effects of changing work on the health and satisfaction of employees”

2025-04-02 14:00:00

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Retrospective: Second Workshop on New Work in Public Administration

Temporal and Functional Flexibilisation of Work

2024-09-19 13:00:00

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Retrospective: New Work in public administration

In collaboration with the Subcommittee on General Administrative Organisation of Task Force VI of the Conference of the Ministers of the Interior

2023-06-12 10:00:00

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Retrospective: Violence against public sector employees

2022-06-24 10:00:00 24. Juni 2022, 11:15 Uhr bis 17:30

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Selected projects in this research area

Projects

New Work in public administration

New Work is an approach that describes the transformation of the modern workplace. It encompasses not only new forms and models of work, but also changes in social structures and the demands placed on employees. It therefore encompasses the organisational, societal and individual levels. The National Institute for Public Administration Germany is designing a tailor-made model project for the administrations in ministries to develop new forms and models of work with the help of New Work approaches. The implementation of the model in each participating ministry will be accompanied by empirical surveys. This will primarily allow rapid access to results and secondly deliver reliable conclusions for medium and long-term planning of work forms and models.

2023-01-01 08:38:00 Civil Service Duration: 01/01/2023 to 31/12/2027

A group of people sit at a table and work on laptops

Article

Projects

Recruitment using public value strategies

The public sector faces increasing challenges in attracting and retaining sufficient numbers of skilled staff through traditional methods. In addition to the impact of demographic change, competition from the private sector for talent is also a concern. In this context, it is vital to identify strategies for attracting skilled professionals and motivating existing employees to remain in the public sector.

2023-01-01 11:18:00 Civil Service Duration: 01/01/2023 - 31/05/2026

Article

Projects

Diversity in the public sector as a public value

Recent years have seen a proliferation of initiatives aimed at increasing and strengthening the diversity of the public sector workforce. This has been driven not only by skills shortages, but also by the recognition that broad representation contributes to greater responsiveness in public administration. By responding better and more specifically to the concerns and needs of all sections of the population, it also strengthens the acceptance of administrative actions. Ultimately, the project aims to create a 'toolbox' for the diversity-sensitive socialisation of public administration. The focus is on the state level and includes the management and professional levels embedded there.

2023-01-01 12:08:00 Civil Service Duration: 01/01/2023 - 31/12/2025

A group of different hands on a wooden table symbolizes cooperation and teamwork.

Article

Projects

Investigation into the prevalence of violence against public sector workers and possible courses of action

The National Institute for Public Administration Germany was commissioned by the Federal Ministry of the Interior and Community to investigate the prevalence of violence against public sector employees. The aim of the project was to create a factual basis for the development of sustainable and differentiated strategies for dealing with violence against public sector employees, as there are currently no comprehensive figures on assaults on public servants and no systematic overview of practical experience with approaches to curbing violence. The project was conducted by the National Institute for Public Administration Germany in close cooperation with the German Confederation of Trade Unions (DGB) and the German Civil Service Federation (dbb).

2020-11-01 10:53:00 Civil Service Duration: 1/11/2020 - 30/9/2022 | Funding: Federal Ministry of the Interior and Community (BMI)