by Kate Teske
Introduction
Public Service is having to change its very nature, in order to accommodate the changing needs of society, in a knowledge era. Since 1980, government bureaucracies have been struggling with preIndustrial Age characteristics including: hierarchical structures; oligarchies (and resulting Peter’s principle); specialization; rigidity; secretiveness; and trained Incapacity. Whereas, changes in society, as it moves towards a Knowledge Age, demand of bureaucracies that they have: hetrarchical structures (flexibility and agility); knowledge at all levels of structure; partnerships both inter and intra governmental and with private enterprise; responsiveness; openness and accountability; and innovation.(continue…)