Personnel management in German public administration: a critical success factor in the new steering model

Administrative modernization in the German public services is strongly focused on the so- called "new steering model," which incorporates the principles of freedom to manage, decentralization and innovations in human resources management. This article evaluates the chances of implementing the new steering model by identifying personnel management as a critical success factor It contrasts the analytical implications of the new steering model for personnel management with actual changes in human resources practices in German local administration. Empirical evidence is also drawn from a survey of former Quality Award participants in Germany, the United Kingdom and United States. The results reveal, from an international and comparative perspective, that human resources management in progressive, German public organizations has a relatively low visibility