Delegation of decision-making authority within ministries

Procurement/contracts of low-level purchases (less than EUR 5 000) are signed below the level of minister

Analysis of five ministries (ministries responsible for finance, social affairs, justice, economy and education) to assess the scope of delegation of decision-making authority at two levels: 1) from the political level (minister) to the administrative level (senior civil servants); and 2) from the top administrative level (secretary general/permanent secretary of the ministry) to the lower administrative level (heads of units within the ministry). Delegation is defined as meaning that no higher managerial approval is needed to take decisions. Delegation from the political to the administrative level is prioritised to promote separation between policy-making and operational activities. Therefore, four criteria relate to delegation from the ministerial level to the administrative level, while three criteria concern delegation within the administrative level. The seven regular decision-making items are checked in all five ministries. The administration is asked to provide documentary evidence for each of the seven decisions. SIGMA verifies the information provided during on-site observations and interviews with relevant staff members of the sample ministries. Points are awarded based on the number of reviewed ministries that meet the requirement, 0.4 points per ministry.

Recruitment decisions and employment contracts of senior advisers and similar positions are signed below the level of minister

Analysis of five ministries (ministries responsible for finance, social affairs, justice, economy and education) to assess the scope of delegation of decision-making authority at two levels: 1) from the political level (minister) to the administrative level (senior civil servants); and 2) from the top administrative level (secretary general/permanent secretary of the ministry) to the lower administrative level (heads of units within the ministry). Delegation is defined as meaning that no higher managerial approval is needed to take decisions. Delegation from the political to the administrative level is prioritised to promote separation between policy-making and operational activities. Therefore, four criteria relate to delegation from the ministerial level to the administrative level, while three criteria concern delegation within the administrative level. The seven regular decision-making items are checked in all five ministries. The administration is asked to provide documentary evidence for each of the seven decisions. SIGMA verifies the information provided during on-site observations and interviews with relevant staff members of the sample ministries. Points are awarded based on the number of reviewed ministries that meet the requirement, 0.4 points per ministry.

Replies to public information requests are signed below the level of minister

Analysis of five ministries (ministries responsible for finance, social affairs, justice, economy and education) to assess the scope of delegation of decision-making authority at two levels: 1) from the political level (minister) to the administrative level (senior civil servants); and 2) from the top administrative level (secretary general/permanent secretary of the ministry) to the lower administrative level (heads of units within the ministry). Delegation is defined as meaning that no higher managerial approval is needed to take decisions. Delegation from the political to the administrative level is prioritised to promote separation between policy-making and operational activities. Therefore, four criteria relate to delegation from the ministerial level to the administrative level, while three criteria concern delegation within the administrative level. The seven regular decision-making items are checked in all five ministries. The administration is asked to provide documentary evidence for each of the seven decisions. SIGMA verifies the information provided during on-site observations and interviews with relevant staff members of the sample ministries. Points are awarded based on the number of reviewed ministries that meet the requirement, 0.4 points per ministry.

Regular annual leave requests are formally approved by the line manager

Analysis of five ministries (ministries responsible for finance, social affairs, justice, economy and education) to assess the scope of delegation of decision-making authority at two levels: 1) from the political level (minister) to the administrative level (senior civil servants); and 2) from the top administrative level (secretary general/permanent secretary of the ministry) to the lower administrative level (heads of units within the ministry). Delegation is defined as meaning that no higher managerial approval is needed to take decisions. Delegation from the political to the administrative level is prioritised to promote separation between policy-making and operational activities. Therefore, four criteria relate to delegation from the ministerial level to the administrative level, while three criteria concern delegation within the administrative level. The seven regular decision-making items are checked in all five ministries. The administration is asked to provide documentary evidence for each of the seven decisions. SIGMA verifies the information provided during on-site observations and interviews with relevant staff members of the sample ministries. Points are awarded based on the number of reviewed ministries that meet the requirement, 0.4 points per ministry.

Business trips of staff members are formally approved (signed) below the level of permanent secretary or equivalent

Analysis of five ministries (ministries responsible for finance, social affairs, justice, economy and education) to assess the scope of delegation of decision-making authority at two levels: 1) from the political level (minister) to the administrative level (senior civil servants); and 2) from the top administrative level (secretary general/permanent secretary of the ministry) to the lower administrative level (heads of units within the ministry). Delegation is defined as meaning that no higher managerial approval is needed to take decisions. Delegation from the political to the administrative level is prioritised to promote separation between policy-making and operational activities. Therefore, four criteria relate to delegation from the ministerial level to the administrative level, while three criteria concern delegation within the administrative level. The seven regular decision-making items are checked in all five ministries. The administration is asked to provide documentary evidence for each of the seven decisions. SIGMA verifies the information provided during on-site observations and interviews with relevant staff members of the sample ministries. Points are awarded based on the number of reviewed ministries that meet the requirement, 0.4 points per ministry.

Approval of training for staff members is authorised below the level of permanent secretary or equivalent

Analysis of five ministries (ministries responsible for finance, social affairs, justice, economy and education) to assess the scope of delegation of decision-making authority at two levels: 1) from the political level (minister) to the administrative level (senior civil servants); and 2) from the top administrative level (secretary general/permanent secretary of the ministry) to the lower administrative level (heads of units within the ministry). Delegation is defined as meaning that no higher managerial approval is needed to take decisions. Delegation from the political to the administrative level is prioritised to promote separation between policy-making and operational activities. Therefore, four criteria relate to delegation from the ministerial level to the administrative level, while three criteria concern delegation within the administrative level. The seven regular decision-making items are checked in all five ministries. The administration is asked to provide documentary evidence for each of the seven decisions. SIGMA verifies the information provided during on-site observations and interviews with relevant staff members of the sample ministries. Points are awarded based on the number of reviewed ministries that meet the requirement, 0.4 points per ministry.

Order for the payments of salaries to the staff of the ministry are signed below the level of minister

Analysis of five ministries (ministries responsible for finance, social affairs, justice, economy and education) to assess the scope of delegation of decision-making authority at two levels: 1) from the political level (minister) to the administrative level (senior civil servants); and 2) from the top administrative level (secretary general/permanent secretary of the ministry) to the lower administrative level (heads of units within the ministry). Delegation is defined as meaning that no higher managerial approval is needed to take decisions. Delegation from the political to the administrative level is prioritised to promote separation between policy-making and operational activities. Therefore, four criteria relate to delegation from the ministerial level to the administrative level, while three criteria concern delegation within the administrative level. The seven regular decision-making items are checked in all five ministries. The administration is asked to provide documentary evidence for each of the seven decisions. SIGMA verifies the information provided during on-site observations and interviews with relevant staff members of the sample ministries. Points are awarded based on the number of reviewed ministries that meet the requirement, 0.4 points per ministry.

Perception of empowerment of middle-managers in line ministries by staff (%)

Analysis of survey responses from a sample of public servants in middle-level management positions to the following statement: “To what extent do you agree with the following statement: Under normal circumstances, I feel autonomous and empowered to take my own managerial decisions on operational/day-to-day issues (for example related to budget, HR, procurement, project management or service delivery), without political interferences.” Answer options are: Strongly disagree, Tend to disagree, Neither disagree nor agree, Tend to agree, Strongly agree, Do not know, Prefer not to answer. Points are allocated based on the percentage of respondents who replied "Tend to agree" or "Strongly agree” to the above statement (x): • x < 10% = 0 points. • 10% ≤ x < 90% = linear function. • x ≥ 90% = 1 point.