New development: The implementation (gap) of senior civil service recruitment reform - a matter of organizational size?

Abstract

oai:iris.unibocconi.it:11565/4068856The public sector is increasingly challenged to address complex societal issues, highlighting the need to develop and recruit senior civil servants with the right skills and motivation. Numerous reforms have been introduced to improve the effectiveness of senior civil service recruitment, but successful implementation at the organizational level is not guaranteed. This study explores the implementation gap in public management reforms within the context of the Italian public sector, focusing on the potential influence of organizational size. The article supports a significant and positive correlation between size and innovation, within the specific context of public employment reforms, given that smaller organizations are less likely to adopt a broad set of innovative recruitment practices