Administrative Procedures and Processes

Abstract

A process-oriented approach sees public administration as an interconnection of information, communications, interactions and decisions. It establishes the process organisation that shows the state ‘in action’ and complements the administrative and personnel side of public administration. While the term administrative processes can be understood as a generic term for this procedural side of the administration, according to the German understanding, procedures are processes with which the administration works towards citizens and companies and in which these face the administration with their own rights. Characteristic of these procedures vis-à-vis persons outside the administration is a high degree of juridification by administrative procedure law. The legal status of the citizen vis-à-vis the administration is very strong in Germany. In recent years, also influenced by New Public Management thought, great efforts have been made to optimise the procedural side of public administration. The chapter presents significant tools and approaches of this process thinking.