Mélissa Monaco :The IIAS has a new website, how important is it for the Institute?
What do you expect from this new tool?

Prof. Franz Strehl: IIAS is at present building up a worldwide knowledge portal for the public sector in order to improve the value proposition of our organization. There are, of course, already quite a number of different knowledge portals for the public sector. Some of the players much bigger than IIAS. We emphasize our structure with national sections/member states all over the world. The website should provide up to date information from these national sections/ member states or partners.

Whereas our International Review (IRAS) and our publications are of special importance for academics, the knowledge portal should be primarily shaped according to the special needs of top civil servants and practitioners. Many top civil servants are very interested in current information across national, regional and cultural borders. The main purpose is not at all to create 'new information' but rather to collect information, to present it in a concise but attractive form and to provide links for those who wish to know more. The focus is on management issues.

We believe that it is interesting to learn what other organisations in the public sector are doing and how they do it as well as what other stakeholders on all levels in the public administrative systems do (local, regional, national and also international/ supranational).

The IIAS worldwide knowledge portal for the public sector should be an appropriate instrument for information and be able to initiate and support discussions on actual developments in the public sector. The ambitions of the website are the following:

  • That the IIAS worldwide knowledge portal for the public sector becomes one of the best and most frequently visited websites for the public sector.
  • That the basis of the portal is a network of suppliers from the public and private sector, from universities and other important stakeholders. The national sections/ member states actively operate in these networks.
  • That the network is supported by a group of highly qualified specialists, mainly members of the IIAS Executive Committee and the IIAS webmaster, who
    are responsible for the content management of the website.

MM: A year ago, you were re-elected for a second term as the President of the Institute.
What are your priorities?

FS: There are several key strategic priorities on which we are working.

  • Governance and Organisation of the Institute
    Lean and efficient structures and synergies between the three bodies IIAS, IASIA and EGPA.
    Other important internal issues are budget management, cost accounting and personnel development.
  • Strategy and Marketing
    The development and implementation of a consistent strategy focussing on the successful positioning of the Institute in a highly competitive environment and on the development of the internal resources and core competences. Improved positioning and visibility of the Institute with the stakeholders worldwide. Modernisation of the image and brand name as well as the development of the respective marketing tools to reach our target groups (especially product policy, communication policy and cooperation with stakeholders).
  • Sponsoring
    One important issue is sponsoring: Identification of potential sponsors, especially in the private sector, who have an interest in the public sector and the development of a sponsoring concept to attract these sponsors.
  • Website and Communication
    Website and Communication concepts are being developed and will be implemented soon. We are focussing on improving external communication and the promotion of the Institute as “A Worldwide Platform for Public Administration”.
  • Intensified cooperation with regions
    “Dialogue” and cooperation with regions all over the world is a top priority: the focus is on common events and continuous exchange of knowledge and best practice for the mutual benefit of the partners.
  • Conference Management
    Core themes are: information, advertising, registration, secure credit card payments, preconference services, call for papers and the conference format as such. The main objective is to develop an integrated modern and attractive conference design, including the integration of the conference topics with research and mid-term project activities, in order to realize continuous and sustainable effects beyond the single event.
  • Scientific Issues
    The Programme and Research Advisory Committee of the Institute develops “Critical Governance Issues” i.e. themes which for administrative systems are current and relevant in theory and practice. They are systematically worked on in project groups and conferences (see above) and results and recommendations are brought to the attention of the IIAS partner institutions worldwide. Scientific issues include the publications policy (IIAS-Review in four languages, books and on-line publications).

MM: In your opinion, what are important challenges in Public Administration today?

FS: 

  • The role of Public Administration in the age of a declining environment
  • The functions of Public Administration in context with globalization, international competition
  • Societal changes and the role of Public Administration
  • Implementation and realisation of the principles of Good Governance.