Frank and fearless leadership: can it survive in the 'reformed' public service
Nearly twenty years ago the author published a paper titled, "The Concept of Bureaucratic Neutrality". This review paper re-examines the relevance of the concept, based on hind sight from the author's subsequent experience working in the highest levels of the Western Australian public...
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| Format: | Journal Article |
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Institute of Public Administration Australia (ACT Division)
2005
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| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/4683 |
| _version_ | 1848744585290842112 |
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| author | Williams, Christopher |
| author_facet | Williams, Christopher |
| author_sort | Williams, Christopher |
| building | Curtin Institutional Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | Nearly twenty years ago the author published a paper titled, "The Concept of Bureaucratic Neutrality". This review paper re-examines the relevance of the concept, based on hind sight from the author's subsequent experience working in the highest levels of the Western Australian public service. Particular consideration is given to the relationship between ministers and senior public servants, and the nature of the advice and leadership given by public servants. In this paper, it is argued that it is increasingly difficult for senior public servants to remain 'frank and fearless' when advising ministers, because of reforms which have led to changes in the nature of the public servants' employment. The changes to the Australian public service environment over the last two decades have created many more 'occasions for fearlessness' for senior public servants. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-14T06:03:48Z |
| format | Journal Article |
| id | curtin-20.500.11937-4683 |
| institution | Curtin University Malaysia |
| institution_category | Local University |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-14T06:03:48Z |
| publishDate | 2005 |
| publisher | Institute of Public Administration Australia (ACT Division) |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | curtin-20.500.11937-46832017-02-27T15:14:38Z Frank and fearless leadership: can it survive in the 'reformed' public service Williams, Christopher Public Service Reform Leadership Nearly twenty years ago the author published a paper titled, "The Concept of Bureaucratic Neutrality". This review paper re-examines the relevance of the concept, based on hind sight from the author's subsequent experience working in the highest levels of the Western Australian public service. Particular consideration is given to the relationship between ministers and senior public servants, and the nature of the advice and leadership given by public servants. In this paper, it is argued that it is increasingly difficult for senior public servants to remain 'frank and fearless' when advising ministers, because of reforms which have led to changes in the nature of the public servants' employment. The changes to the Australian public service environment over the last two decades have created many more 'occasions for fearlessness' for senior public servants. 2005 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/4683 Institute of Public Administration Australia (ACT Division) restricted |
| spellingShingle | Public Service Reform Leadership Williams, Christopher Frank and fearless leadership: can it survive in the 'reformed' public service |
| title | Frank and fearless leadership: can it survive in the 'reformed' public service |
| title_full | Frank and fearless leadership: can it survive in the 'reformed' public service |
| title_fullStr | Frank and fearless leadership: can it survive in the 'reformed' public service |
| title_full_unstemmed | Frank and fearless leadership: can it survive in the 'reformed' public service |
| title_short | Frank and fearless leadership: can it survive in the 'reformed' public service |
| title_sort | frank and fearless leadership: can it survive in the 'reformed' public service |
| topic | Public Service Reform Leadership |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/4683 |