Seeking for Administrative Reform

The Working Group No. 14 and the creation of the Secretariat for Administrative Reform (1965-1969)

Abstract

Since the 1950s, some studies began to emphasise the need to improve the productivity level of the Portuguese Public Administration. Simultaneously, some attempts are made to simplify and reduce bureaucracy in administrative work, but these experiences remain partial and are not included in a global plan. To overcome these problems, the reformist measures took by the Government had to be systematised and synchronised with the objectives of economic and social development. And, to that end, it should be established a central and technical organisation capable of promoting and coordinating the reform. After being constantly postponed, only in 1965 a clear step was taken to its creation, with the emergence of Working Group No. 14 within the Commission on Planning and Economic Integration. This body was entrusted with the preparatory studies for administrative reform and it would ultimately be responsible for setting up the Secretariat for Administrative Reform. Based on its largely unpublished reports, this article aims to analyse the structure and the main topics studied by the Working Group. It also intends to understand how it helped to define the guidelines for the Secretariat for Administrative Reform and for the subsequent project of modernisation of the Portuguese Public Administration.