Vol. 3 No. 1 (2018)

We are pleased to present you with the ninth issue of the International Journal of Civil Service Reform and Practice published by the Astana Civil Service Hub.

This issue opens with the article of Dr Colin Knox, Professor at Nazarbayev and Ulster Universities. This article considers existing research on the impact of public sector reform in developing countries and offers an alternative approach, through case studies of Azerbaijan, Georgia and Kazakhstan. His approach is based on two keys elements: an agenda which attempts to shift developing countries to an outcomes-based approach operationalized through a “quality of life” framework; and, peer-to-peer learning, which acknowledges the importance of such a variable in governance reforms – country-specific context.

The next paper was prepared by a team at the National Centre for E-services based in Minsk, Belarus. In their article, the authors present a comprehensive analysis of the electronic government system evolution in Belarus. The paper reviews the legal framework, infrastructure-related solutions, as well as different stages of the e-government system transformation in the country.

Dr Nguyen Viet Hung, Dr Phan Van Hung and Professor Be Trung Anh’s article follows. The design framework of e-Local Governance in Vietnam is discussed as an integrated ICT system that includes a Geographical Information System (GIS). The database system aims at enhancing the Committee for Ethnic Minorities Affairs capabilities in the planning and decision making process by providing data, internet based GIS, internet communication and some ecological models to disseminate analysis results to the ethnic minorities concerned.

Last, but not least, Sunil Thawani, a member of the Board of Directors of the American Society for Quality Management, reviews examples and success stories of how Quality Management strategies, standards and tools can help achieve SDGs with lesser costs while enhancing citizen satisfaction.

We hope that the content of this edition of the Journal will be of value to anyone interested in the issues of public administration reforms, e-government and quality management systems.

Published: 2018-03-08