Skip to main content
Log in

A new approach to developing institutional structure

  • Development Policy
  • Published:
Studies in Comparative International Development Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This article describes an approach developed to assess the institutional capacity of whole governments. It discusses the evolving context in Latin America and the Caribbean for public sector reforms and the impact of structural adjustment and globalization on international agency policies on the issue. It reviews national and sectoral organizational networks, the profile of a modern public administration, and the definition of public management horizontal and vertical systems; explains how integration of horizontal management system reforms is attained at the ministry level, and addresses the issue of performance management and use of an elite managerial and technical corps. Finally, it describes techniques used to plan changes in strategies.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • EVAN, WILLIAM 1984Organization theory, structures, systems and environments. New York: John Wiley and Sons.

    Google Scholar 

  • GORE, ALBERT 1993Creating a government that works better and costs less: The report of the national performance review. New York: Penguin Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • GOVERNMENT oF JAMAICA 1992Report of committee of advisors on governments structure, coordinated by Rex Nettleford. Kingston: Bank of Jamaica.

    Google Scholar 

  • INK, DWIGHT A. 1983Revitalizing federal management: Managers and their overburdened systems. Washington, D.C.: National Academy of Public Administration.

    Google Scholar 

  • KATZ, SAUL M. 1965System approach to development administration, Papers in comparative public administration. Special Series No. 6. Washington, D.C.: Comparative Administration Group, ASPA.

    Google Scholar 

  • LAMB, GEOFFREY 1987Managing economic policy change, Institutional dimensions. World Bank Discussion Papers, no. 14. June. Washington, D.C.: The World Bank.

    Google Scholar 

  • LEWIN, KURT 1951Field theory in social science. New York: Harper and Row.

    Google Scholar 

  • MOORE, RICHARD J. 1992A preliminary analysis of the bank's approach to core ministry restructuring with a focus on LAC activities. LATPS Occasional Paper Series no. 4, February 25. Public Sector Management Division, Technical Department. Washington D.C.: The World Bank.

    Google Scholar 

  • NAPA ADVISORY PANEL ON IMPROVING GOVERNMENT PERFORMANCE 1994Toward useful performance measurement: Lessons learned from initial performance plans prepared under the Government Performance and Results Act. Washington, D.C.: NAPA.

    Google Scholar 

  • NUNBERG, BARBARA 1990Public sector pay and employment reform: A review of World Bank's experience. World Bank Discussion Papers no. 98. November. Washington, D.C.: The World Bank.

    Google Scholar 

  • — 1990Public sector management issues in structural adjustment lending. World Bank Discussion Papers, no. 99. August. Washington, D.C.: The World Bank.

    Google Scholar 

  • OAS 1967Progreso de la administración para el desarollo en américa latina. Report of Deliberations. Inter-American Seminar, Buenos Aires, December 6–15. Washington, D.C.: General Secretariat of OAS.

    Google Scholar 

  • OAS 1996 OAS specialized conference on the draft inter-American Convention against corruption. Caracas. March 29. (OEA/SER. KXXXIV. 1, 14/96 rev. 2).

  • OECD 1993Public management developments: Survey 1993. Paris: OECD.

    Google Scholar 

  • — 1994Performance management in government: Performance measurement and results-oriented management. Public Management Occasional Papers no. 3. Paris: OECD.

    Google Scholar 

  • PAUL, SAMUEL 1990Institutional reforms in sector adjustment operations: The World Bank's experience. World Bank Discussion Papers, no. 92. June. Washington, D.C.: The World Bank.

    Google Scholar 

  • PRICE, LISETTE 1991Governance: Experience in Latin America and the Caribbean. LATPS Occasional Papers Series, no. 1. March 29. Public Sector Management Division. Technical Department. Washington D.C.: The World Bank.

    Google Scholar 

  • RIBE, HELENA, CARVALHO, SONIA, eT aL. 1990How adjustment programs can help the poor: The World Bank's experience. World Bank Discussion Papers, no. 71. August. Washington D.C.: The World Bank.

    Google Scholar 

  • STIGLITZ, JOSEPH, E., eT aL. 1989The economic role of the state, edited by Arnold Heertje. Cambridge MA: Basil Blackwell.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Additional information

Ernesto F. Betancourt is Vice-President of International Development and Finance (IDF), in charge of institutional development and public sector reform. He has worked in most countries in Latin America and the Caribbean as a consultant for more than thirty years, and is the author of many essays, articles and reports on Cuban and Latin American politics and public administration. He is also the author ofRevolutionary Strategy: A Handbook for Practitioners, a textbook on the analysis of revolutionary propensity, © 1991 by Transaction Publishers.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Betancourt, E.F. A new approach to developing institutional structure. St Comp Int Dev 32, 3–28 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02687322

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02687322

Keywords

Navigation