Administrative coordination capacity; does the wickedness of policy areas matter?. Issue 2 (6th March 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Christensen, Tom; Lægreid, Ole Martin; Lægreid, Per
• Is Part Of: Policy & society. Volume 38:Issue 2(2019)
• Page Start: 237
• Page End: 254
• Publication Date: 2019-03-06
• Subjects: Wicked problems -- coordination capacity -- climate change -- immigration -- police -- structural features -- cultural features -- Norway; Policy sciences -- Periodicals; Social policy -- Periodicals; Economic policy -- Periodicals; International relations -- Periodicals; Sciences de la politique -- Périodiques; Politique sociale -- Périodiques; Politique économique -- Périodiques; Relations internationales -- Périodiques; Australia -- Politics and government -- 1945- -- Periodicals; Australia -- Economic conditions -- 1945- -- Periodicals; Pacific Area -- Politics and government -- Periodicals; Pacific Area -- Economic conditions -- Periodicals; Australie -- Politique et gouvernement -- 1945- -- Périodiques; Australie -- Conditions économiques -- 1945- -- Périodiques; Pacifique, Région du -- Politique et gouvernement -- Périodiques; Pacifique, Région du -- Conditions économiques -- Périodiques; 320.605
• DOI: 10.1080/14494035.2019.1584147
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1449-4035

Abstract

Abstract: Based on a survey of civil servants in the Norwegian central government, this article describes perceptions of coordination capacity and examines to what degree the variations in perceived coordinating capacity can be explained by structural and cultural features. In particular, it focuses on the significance of wicked policy areas. Overall the coordination capacity is weaker in wicked policy areas than in other policy areas. Controlling for other features the coordination capacity is primarily related to cultural factors, such as mutual trust, level of conflict, and identification with the central government. Some structural features, such as administrative level, also have an effect.