Survey on organizational autonomy, steering and control

In 2004, an electronic questionnaire was sent out to all state organizations with the aim of obtaining systematic knowledge about the scope of and experiences with lay-off and management forms in the state. The survey was carried out by the Rokkansenteret, University of Bergen, while the practical implementation took place at the Norwegian Social Science Data Service (NSD).
After application, it will be possible to access data from the survey, possibly in the form of a reduced file.

Background:
As part of the research project Regulation, control and auditing, funded by the Research Council of Norway under the program Research for renewal and innovation in the public sector, the Rokkan Center at the University of Bergen conducted a survey among government organizations in 2004. The purpose of the survey was to obtain more systematic knowledge about the scope of and experiences with redundancies and governance reforms in the state. The project is part of an international research collaboration with researchers in several other countries where similar surveys are also carried out, e.g. in Belgium and Ireland and the Norwegian survey is a translation and adaptation of the extensive Belgian (Flanders) survey arrangement.

The main theme of the survey was:
- Organizational characteristics
- Autonomy conditions
- Management
- Organizational culture
- Other factual information

The Norwegian Social Science Data Service (NSD) was responsible for the practical implementation of the survey. Statskonsult took part in parts of the survey and wanted to use the results at an aggregate level in the publication Forvaltningsutsyn.

Population:
The Norwegian survey addressed all state administrative bodies which in 2003 were directly subordinate to a ministry; part of the state as a legal entity. These administrative bodies can be divided into the following subtypes (number of units per 2003 in brackets):
- Directorate (N = 58)
- Other ordinary administrative body (N = 135)
- Administrative body with special powers (N = 29)
- Management companies (N = 5)
- Financing institutions (N = 3)

These organizations can further be divided into three different types:
1. Stand-alone national body without underlying local apparatus. Ex. The Norwegian Data Protection Authority. All of these were included.
2. Agencies; organizations organized with a central head office and a varying number of underlying regional and/or local offices. Ex. NAV. All head offices were included.
3. Group organisations. Groups of similar organizations that are all directly subordinate to a ministry. Ex. State universities, county man's offices. All individual units were included.

Based on these criteria, the Norwegian population comprised a total of 230 businesses per 2003. When the survey was sent out in March 2004, this population had been reduced to 215 units. The reduction is due to several factors, partly closures, completely new units etc.
One form was sent to each organization and the person or persons who filled in the form responded on behalf of the organization. Each individual organization also includes any underlying units at regional and local level, but not any associated companies and foundations.
The questionnaire itself was posted on the Internet, in a separate password-protected area for each of the organizations included in the survey.
Above the respondents, it is stated that the results from the survey will be treated confidentially and in a scientifically sound manner, no one other than the researchers shall have access to the answers and that results from the survey shall be presented so that individual organizations cannot be identified.