Agility and leadership in the public sector
: Haltung von Führungskräften zu agilen Organisationsstrukturen

  • Nadja Reichl

Student thesis: Master's Thesis

Abstract

I dedicate this master’s thesis to analysing and implementing agile working methods in the public sector, with a focus on the attitude of managers towards agile methods and approaches in a corporate context. The central research questions are:
• Which attitude prevails among managers with regard to the transformation to an agile organisational structure?
• What strengths and weaknesses are attributed to agile organisational structures by managers? In order to answer these questions, I will initially explain the key terms of the study, including VUCA, New Public Management, agility, agile values and corporate culture. I then discussthe theoretical foundations of various models and concepts, such as sociocracy and holocracy, in order to generate an understanding of agile organisational models and their raison d’être. Scientific theory shows that agile organisational structures need to be implemented in the public sector in order to meet the challenges of an increasingly dynamic and unpredictable VUCA world. I then address organisational development and change management in the corporate context. Within these topics, I analyse the historical development, differentiation and coordination of change. I pay particular attention to the interaction and interplay between corporate culture and organisational structure in order to facilitate the successful implementation of agile methods in public sector organisations, and establish them in the long term. The discussion of the challenges and opportunities associated with the introduction of agile working methods in the public sector provides a comprehensive insight into the complexity and multi-layered nature of the topic. The following section provides an overview of the phase models of change processes by Lewin, Streich and Kotter. The model of success factors for organisational change according to Lauer is also discussed in detail. For the empirical part of this work, ten qualitative expert interviews were conducted with managers in order to record their experiences, expertise and perspectives. The findings and results from these interviews were transcribed and analysed in accordance with Mayring. I attempt to derive recommendations for action from the findings to support organisations in the public sector in the successful implementation and integration of agile working methods and to establish a sustainable culture of change. Finally, I conclude with a summary of this study’s findings and an outlook on potential developments in the area of agility in the public sector. The aim of this master’s thesis is to contribute to the further development of the understanding of agile organisational development approaches in the public sector by linking theoretical concepts and empirical findings, and to attempt to provide a solid and well-founded basis for further research and practical applications in this field.
Date of AwardAug 2024
Original languageGerman (Austria)
SupervisorIrmtraud Ehrenmüller (Supervisor)

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