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The COVID-19 pandemic as a game changer for public administration and leadership? The need for robust governance responses to turbulent problems

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  • Christopher Ansell
  • Eva Sørensen
  • Jacob Torfing

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic reveals that the public sector is not only facing simple and complex problem, but also turbulent problems characterized by the surprising emergence of inconsistent, unpredictable, and uncertain events. Turbulent problems call for robust governance solutions that are sufficiently adaptable, agile and pragmatic to upheld a particular goal or function in the face of continuous disruptions. The article defines the concepts of turbulence and robustness and provides examples of robust governance strategies that are illustrated by the current COVID-19 response. Finally, it draws the consequences of the new focus on robust governance for public administration and leadership.

Suggested Citation

  • Christopher Ansell & Eva Sørensen & Jacob Torfing, 2021. "The COVID-19 pandemic as a game changer for public administration and leadership? The need for robust governance responses to turbulent problems," Public Management Review, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 23(7), pages 949-960, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:rpxmxx:v:23:y:2021:i:7:p:949-960
    DOI: 10.1080/14719037.2020.1820272
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    Cited by:

    1. Onyango, Gedion, 2023. "The post-COVID-19 economic recovery, government performance and lived poverty conditions in Kenya," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 119511, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    2. Sungjoo Choi & Soonae Park, 2023. "Governmental Transformation in the Era of the Post Pandemic: Analyzing the Impacts of the Pandemic on Organizational Cultural Change in Government," Public Organization Review, Springer, vol. 23(2), pages 451-467, June.
    3. Mokoena Sipho & Ngwakwe Collins, 2022. "Government’s Covid-19 Social Grant in South Africa: A Synopsis of the Effect on Recipients," HOLISTICA – Journal of Business and Public Administration, Sciendo, vol. 13(2), pages 93-101, December.
    4. Jonas Lund-Tønnesen & Tom Christensen, 2023. "Learning from the COVID-19 Pandemic: Implications from Governance Capacity and Legitimacy," Public Organization Review, Springer, vol. 23(2), pages 431-449, June.
    5. Ron Hodges & Eugenio Caperchione & Jan Helden & Christoph Reichard & Daniela Sorrentino, 2022. "The Role of Scientific Expertise in COVID-19 Policy-making: Evidence from Four European Countries," Public Organization Review, Springer, vol. 22(2), pages 249-267, June.
    6. Gupta, Manish & Behl, Abhishek & Pereira, Vijay & Yahiaoui, Dorra & Varma, Arup, 2023. "“From Full-Time to Part-Time”: Motivation model for the turbulence-hit knowledge workers," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 163(C).
    7. Gedion Onyango, 2024. "The Post-COVID-19 Economic Recovery, Government Performance and Lived Poverty Conditions in Kenya," Public Organization Review, Springer, vol. 24(1), pages 369-387, March.
    8. Karol Król & Anita Kukulska-Kozieł & Katarzyna Cegielska & Tomasz Salata & Józef Hernik, 2023. "Turbulent Events Effects: Socioeconomic Changes in Southern Poland as Captured by the LSED Index," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(1), pages 1-24, December.
    9. Maura Campra & Paolo Esposito & Valerio Brescia, 2021. "State of the Art of COVID-19 and Business, Management, and Accounting Sector. A Bibliometrix Analysis," International Journal of Business and Management, Canadian Center of Science and Education, vol. 16(1), pages 1-35, August.
    10. Teodora Nicoleta LAZAR PLESA & Constanța POPESCU & Iliodor Tiberiu PLESA, 2021. "Covid-19 Pandemic And The Impact On Public Management," Internal Auditing and Risk Management, Athenaeum University of Bucharest, vol. 62(2), pages 67-78, June.
    11. Bernhard Hirsch & Fabienne-Sophie Schäfer & Aleksander Aristovnik & Polonca Kovač & Dejan Ravšelj, 2023. "The impact of Digitalized Communication on the effectiveness of Local Administrative Authorities – Findings from Central European Countries in the COVID-19 Crisis," Journal of Business Economics, Springer, vol. 93(1), pages 173-192, January.
    12. Michael O’Donnell & Sue Williamson & Michael Johnson, 2022. "Introduction to the Themed collection: Public sector employment relations in turbulent times," The Economic and Labour Relations Review, , vol. 33(1), pages 12-17, March.
    13. Stefania Ravazzi, 2023. "Beyond plans, governance structures, and organizational strategies: how emotional mechanisms can make a difference in emergency response processes," Policy Sciences, Springer;Society of Policy Sciences, vol. 56(3), pages 499-523, September.

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