A Review on the book "Motivating Bureaucracy"

Title: Motivating Bureaucracy

Author: M Sathya Babu

Place of Publication: 2/10 Ansari Road, Daaryaganj, New Delhi 110 002

Year of Publication: 2002 and reprinted in 2003, 2004 and 2005

Number of pages: 175

ISBN: 0333 93716 3

Introduction

The Author of the book, M Sathya Babu is an experienced civil servant in an Indian Bureaucracy. He has worked in various capacities and gained much experience in the field of bureaucracy and its attitudes and behaviors. His other book includes “The Sick Industrial Companies Act 1985- A First Hand Account”.

“Bureaucracy” is the heart and soul of the governing system of every organization or country for that matter. It is the hierarchy of various stages of administration with division of roles and associated accountability. The success of every organization depends on an effective team of bureaucracy. The effective bureaucracy is made up of effective individuals who work with the common organization’s goals. The effectiveness of every bureaucrat depends on various internal and external factors. The internal factor refers to the inner values of the individual, both inborn and acquired over the period of time. The external factors are determined by the leadership of the superior and the cooperativeness of the subordinates and the peers. The external factors can be from outside of the organization as well.

Some of the internal factors include commitment, integrity, attitude, and values like punctual, respect for others, responsiveness, corrupt free conscience and willingness. But it is not limited to these factors. These internal factors together with external factors like leadership of the bosses and their guidance, their inner values and the cooperativeness and inner values of subordinates contribute largely to the effectiveness and efficiency of every individual. The productivity of an individual also depends on working environment and facilities provided in office to carry out the activities. Together with good working condition, if the individual can uphold his/her values, the efficiency of self and the organization ultimately will be enhanced greatly. These are some of the issues being brought up by Mr. Babu in this book.

Gist of the book and its Analysis

This book, “Motivating Bureaucracy” by M Sathya Babu talks about the bureaucracy and its role in an organization in an Indian context but are applicable to the bureaucrats of every other organizations. It talks about some of the factors determining the effectiveness of an individual which can ultimately determine the effectiveness of the bureaucracy under which he/she works as a team. The following are some of the factors that determine the efficiency and inefficiency of an individual and the organization as a whole:

1. Job Security: The civil service provides some form of job security and this has created some form of relaxation in the minds of bureaucrats. The author describes this as the misery for the organization. Job security is also one form of motivation for the civil servants to perform at his/her best. But some take this opportunity as an advantage and does not perform duties efficiently. Whether one works or not, everyone gets a salary at the end of the month. In fact civil servants are required to work with full dedication with the job security that he/she has been provided with.
2. Long Service Tenure: the author points out that people seem to work hard when they are placed away from their home town. Home town here can be the organization in which he/she has been working for long period of time that they have developed some kind of attachment and networking. This networking if not used in proper way leads to more poor performances. The networking can also lead to some corrupt practices. Therefore, it is necessary for any organization to reshuffle the bureaucrats from time to time.
3. Corporatization, privatization and outsourcing: The author describes that the efficiency of an organization’s service delivery increases if certain activities are being privatized, corporatized or outsourced. The author has also cited some examples of failure of the welfare programs which were carried out by the bureaucrats alone, like “the anti-poverty program” which according to author was a total failure in India before. This in fact is true especially with delivery of public services. The private sectors are profit oriented and delaying of any work will be an added cost for them. Therefore, the service delivery is in time and cost effective. Of course the monitoring will have to be done by the organization.
4. Performance based merit: The career development of civil servants should be performance based. If the performance of a civil servant is excellent, he is recognized well than the one whose performance seems lagging. It is said that the right pat at the right time is the greatest motivation.
5. Procrastination and lack of required skills: Procrastination shows inefficient of an individual and this leads to an inefficient organization. It is also important to have some required skills to carry out the tasks. The author also points out that it is always important to upgrade oneself with change of time.
6. The other factors also include behavior, a feeling of patriot and coordination among various stakeholders. One’s behavior and bad habits need to suit the environment we work in. Unhealthy habits will also lead to inefficiency and will have to be corrected.

Conclusion

These aforementioned factors together with some other internal and external factors as discussed above determine the efficiency of an individual and organization altogether. These are some of the self-motivating factors together with the right pat at the right time. Civil servants are the ones who serve citizens and the smile on their face gives the satisfaction for the job done and this satisfaction itself is the motivating factor to work more. If we work with good values and with good motives to serve, the inefficiency will be out of question. When we are efficient in carrying out our duties, that is where we derive satisfaction and hence feel motivated.

THE END