Social Effectiveness of the Czech Public Administration

The purpose of this paper is to present the methodology for assessing social effectiveness of institutions executing public policies and discuss its first results. This methodology developed within a research project supported by the Technological Agency of the Czech Republic extends the conventional paradigm of measuring efficiency by including social elements, opinions of different social groups, integrating different social preferences and by assessing performance against social goals. It reflects findings of empirical research conducted within selected public administration bodies (ministries and agencies), as well as Czech citizens. Both qualitative and quantitative research in the form of semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions, and a survey were used. After the presentation of the methodology, some first results in selected areas are discussed, and conclusions formulated. As the methodology is rather extensive, we will only use one area of social effectiveness, ethics and integrity in particular, to illustrate it.