Management services as an aid to administrative reform in the Sudan public service

Abstract

In this research study the experience of the management services function as an aid to administrative reform in the Sudan is examined. Particular attention is paid to the establishment of the departmental management services units (DMSUs), as institutional in-built organs for administrative reform in the public service. The focus of the study is on the problems which confronted the DMSU programme. Interviews with a number of high-ranking personnel such as the former President Ga'afar Mohamad Nimeiri, the former Ministers of Public Service and Administrative Reform and some Under-Secretaries, all formed an important part of the procedure to trace the development of the management services function in the Sudan. They also provided the opportunity to highlight important issues and problems associated with the subject Comparative material on the experience of other countries showed that successful implementation of management services function can not be achieved in neglect of social, cultural and other environmental considerations. The effectiveness and optimum utilisation of the DMSUs must be affected by such considerations. The general finding of the study is that the DMSU programme has had a rather uneasy development. It did not achieve the objectives which were envisaged. Recommendations for the revival and successful implementation of the DMSU programme are set out in chapter 5.This study consists of five chapters. Chapter one is divided into two parts. One part is about administrative reform: the concept, definitions and approaches; and die second part briefly covers, the wider structure of administrative reform in die Sudan. Chapter two is about the experience of management services function in the Sudan. Chapter three is about the management services training courses and training of the management services officers locally and abroad. Chapter four covers analysis of the problems confronted in the management services in Sudan, and chapter five consists of the conclusion and recommendations.