Bureaucracy under pressure: New(s) management practices in central government agencies

Abstract

How various central government agencies (CGAs) in Sweden respond to the contemporary and highly digitalized media landscape and explore intricate patterns of the ambiguity in organizational and media relations are discussed in this study. Organizational responses caused by the perceptions of the media landscape on governmental agencies are analyzed as a process of bureaucratization. This study suggests that the agencies do not attempt to defend themselves; their efforts are directed toward maintaining internal trust and trust of the public. The studied responses turned out to result in decision-making aspects as preemptive measures, casting light on the significances of the ideal hierarchical authority. Furthermore, the extent of openness in relation to the communication showed rule-based actions. Additionally, the consequences of the media pressure for the more general codes of conduct among the bureaucrats led to the ideal of professional staffing. Our contribution is twofold. First, we argue that the contemporary media landscape – including all institutionalized (i.e., both digital and conventional) forms, structures, platforms, and interfaces – has led to an increased self-control in CGAs; and secondly, that the bureaucratization turns professional employees into “passionate bureaucrats.”