UPPSALA UNIVERSITY ca UPPSALA UNVERSITY OF ECONOMICS & BUSINESS, VNU UNIVERSITET sated nS Improvng the Theoretical Background of the Coordinatve Relationship in State Management at the Grassroots Level Authors: 1. Pham Tuyén Duong 2. Bùi Thị Hương Giang 3. Nguyễn Thị Yến Supervisors: 1.
Sven-Erik Svärd - Uppsala University (Sweden) 2. V6 Kim Son -| National Academy of Politics and Public Administration (Vietnam) Class: MPPM Intake 2, Group 7 Hanoi, September 2011 ABSTRACT Title: Perfecting the Theoretical Background of the Coordinative Relationship in State Management at the Grassroots Level Level: Final assignment for Master Program in Public Management Group Authors: Pham Tuyén Duong Bui Thi Huong Giang Nguyén Thi Yén Supervisor: 1. Sven-Erik Svard - Uppsala University (Sweden) 2. Võ Kim Son - National Academy of Politics and Public Administration (Vietnam) Date when the thesis is presented: 1/9/2011 Aim: The thesis will clarify the theoretical background of the coordinative relationship between VCP, the state and socio-political organizations in implementing state management at the grassroots level.
We provide some solutions to improve the effectiveness of coordination in state management at the grassroots level. Method: - Studying documents related to the subject: some commune summary reports on results of recent coordination in state management. - Interview - Other sources: internet, newspapers, journals, and books Result & Conclusions: Our study is aimed to make a modest contribution to perfection of the theoretical background for the coordinative relationship between the organisations in the political system in the field of state management at the grassroots level Suggestions for future research: Future in-depth research in this vein should focus on the contents of reforming VCP leadership of grassroots-level organs of state management; redefinition of the duties and functions of the commune-level People’s Council Contribution of the thesis: Perfecting the Theoretical Background of the Coordinative Relationship in State Management at the Grassroots Level Key words: The coordinative relationship between VCP, the state and socio-political organizations in Vietnam. CONTENTS INTRODUCTION UbREaWON 1.
Method of study 3. Studying documents related to the subject: 3. THE THEORETICAL BACKGROUND OF COORDINATION IN STATE MANAGEMENT AT THE GRASSROOTS LEVEL IN VIETNAM 1. General concept of coordination in state management KBEsxe 1.
The role of coordination in state management 1. Principles of Coordination 1. The grassroots political system of Vietnam 1.1 Vietnam Communist Party (VCP) 1.2 The grassroots government 1. The socio-political organisations 1.
The mechanismof the grassroots-level coordination in state management 1. The legal basis of the mechanism of party leadership, government's management and participation of the grassroots socio-political organizations 1. The leadership of the grassroots VCP organisation 1. State management of the grassroots government 1.
The participation of the socio-political organisations Il. THE REALITY OF COORDINATION IN STATE MANAGEMENT IN DOAN HUNG DISTRICT 2. Overview of the commune-level political system of Doan Hing District, Phú Tho Province 2. Some grassroots coordination activities in state management in Doan Hùng District 2.
Coordination in construction and organization of implementation of annual socio-economic development plans 2. Coordination in construction and organization of implementation of annual socio-economic development plans 2. Coordination in state management of communication and education of the law 2. Some limitations and their causes 2.
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IMPROVEMENT OF GRASSROOTS COORDINATION IN STATE MANAGEMENT IN DOAN HUNG DISTRICTS 3. Reforming the methods of leadership of grassroots VCP organizations over organs of state management 3. Redefinition ofthe role and function of the Commune-level People’s Councils 3. Reforming methods of coordination with the commune People’s Committee as the core 3.
Reforming the participation methods of the commune Fatherland Front and the socio-political organisations CONCLUSION REFERENCES, APPENDIX INTRODUCTION The political system of Vietnam is composed of three parts: Vietnam Communist Party, the government, and socio-political organizations, which are closely connected on the principle of party leadership-state management- toiling people’s mastery. Coordination in management activities is very important and contributes to improved effectiveness of state management of different levels of government, especially the grassroots one. Coordination of different organizations in management and exercise of public services is an objective requirement because no single public organization can carry out its management or fulfil its tasks independently. Seeking measures to improve coordinative effectiveness in management and exercise of public services is always an indispensable requirement of the current Public Administration Reform (PAR) in Vietnam.
The commune, ward and township (hereinafter the commune) form the grassroots level (the commune-level) in the four-tier administrative system of Vietnam and is the foundation of the political system. The commune plays an extremely important role because it directly implements state directions, policies, laws and other tasks assigned to it by the upper levels; it directly takes care of local people’s life; and, it bridges the state and citizens. Coordination in state management at the commune level of Vietnam remains heavily formal and lacks initiatives, so it has neither resulted in expected results nor promoted the strengths of the whole political system in state management activities at the grassroots level. By studying and analyzing the theoretical background of coordination, coordination in state management; investigating the reality of coordination in the commune-level state management in Doan Hung District, Phu Tho Province; analyzing and comparing the theory to practice; based on which to make recommendations for further improved effectiveness of coordination in state management at the commune level in Vietnam in the coming time, we have arrived at the study subj:ct of “Improving the Theoretical Background of the Coordinative Reldionship in State Management at the Grassroots Level”.
Study objectives The thesis will clarify the theoretical background of the coordinative relationship between VCP, the state and socio-political organizations in impementing state management at the grassroots level to understand the principle of party leadership-state management-people’s mastery in state management, and to understand the theoretical background of the socialist state ruled by the law. Based on our theoretical perceptions, we will analyse the reality of coordination in state management in communes and townships of Doan Hùng, District, Phú Tho Province. We will point out the strengths and weaknesses of the coordination to figure out the causes ofthe reality, based on which we will make provide some solutions to improve the effectiveness of coordination in state management at the grassroots level. The thesis has three parts: I.
Literature review on coordination in state management. The grassroots political system in Vietnam; the components of the grassroots political system in Vietnam; the duties and functions of the component organizations; and, the mechanism of party leadership-state management-toiling people's mastery. Analysis of the reality of coordination in state management at the commune level in Doan Hung District, Phú Tho Province. Comparison of theory and practice of coordination (strengths and weaknesses) III.
Recommendations to improve coordination in state management at the commune level. Research question We will ask and answer a number of questions, but the basic question of this study is: “How is state management at the grassroots level coordinated for best state management in the current context of Vietnam?” 3 3. Method of study This study will be based on the following main principles: 3. Studying documents related to the subject: We will consult some commune summary reports on results of recent coordination in state management.
Investigation: + We will interview two groups of15 interviewees each as follows: - The first group consists of commune VCP secretary as directors of commune coordination. - The second group consists of government leaders (i. Chair and Vice Chairs of the Commune People's Committee) and mass organizations (i. Chairs of the Vietnam Fatherland Front, Women Association, War Veterans, Trade Union; and, Secretary of the Youth League).
We plan to interview instead of using other methods such as survey questionnaires because direct interviews will produce more objective results, and interviewers may induce new questions from interviewees’ answers other than ask fixed questions in a questionnaire. In addition, interviewers may explain a question when an interviewee does not understand it so that the interviewee can answer correctly. + We will also consult experts (our supervisors and several experienced people in the field). Other sources: Besides, we will use some materials found on the Internet, newspapers, journals, and books related to the study subject.
Documents To realize this study well, we will use the theory on political institution of Vietnam, the theory of state ruled by law, the role of the ruling party in state management, and the theory of citizen’s participation in state management in such documents as VCP documents on reform of VCP leadership (Resolution ofthe 5" Central VCP Meeting, 9" Tenure; Resolution of the 8" Central VCP Meeting, 7 Tenure); the 1992 Constitution of 4 Vietram; Instruction 30-CT/TW dated 08/02/1998 of the VCP Politburo, 13” Tenure; Ordinance on Implementation of Democracy in Communes, Wards and “ownships, dated 20/4/2007; the 2003 Law on Organisation of the Peopk's Council and People's Committee; the 1999 Law on Vietnam Fatheland Front; the operational charters of commune-level VCP Executive Comnittees; the organizational and operational charters of socio-political organisations. THE THEORETICAL BACKGROUND OF COORDINATION IN STATE MANAGEMENT AT THE GRASSROOTS LEVEL IN VIETNAM 1.1, General concept of coordination in state management Coordination is most simply defined as organization of activity for two or more organisations. Unlike the concept of cooperation, coordination emphasizes a process that involves activity of two or more organizations harmoniously to implement something for mutual benefits. Another popular definition of coordination reads, “Coordination is a way of working together”.
Crowston provide another concept of coordination with the four main components: the subjects implement activities aimed at objectives of interdependent relationship. In the angle of state management, coordination is a way, a form or a process that involves activity of different organizations to ensure that the involved organizations exercise their functions, duties and powers fully and effectively, in order to gain mutual benefits. More specifically, coordination is implemented to identify priorities and focuses in management in order to ensure the consistency, transparency and predictability of government policies; to use management resources effectively; and, to minimize wastefulnzss. Coordination is present throughout a management process: from policy-meking, institution-making, to organization of implementation of a mechanism, policy or law.
Management is always accompanied by coordination. Cocrdination in state management can be divided into two following basic types: -F rst, voluntary coordination. This coordination stems completely from sdf--awareness of organizations about the need to gain mutual agreement in activity, without any institutional binding or influence, or any pressure or force fiom any organisation. - Secondly, compulsory coordination.
This type of coordination is institutomalized, and involved parties have to follow the coordination requirenent of another organisation. Compulsory coordination can be subdivided into two types: (i) coordination between organizations ofone level to settle regular activities that belong to their function and authority within an institutomal framework; and, (ii) coordination under influence of a third party to settl: problems that normal coordination between organisations can not, or compli:ated problems that exceed their own authority and available resources. The third party here can be the Office of Government, which assists the Prime Minister in coordinating common activities of the Government, or the Prime Minister, who either directly settle those problems or establish working groups that involve related services as provided by Clause 4, Article 20 of the 2001 Law on Organisation of Government to help him settle them. This type can be called “super-coordination”.
Apart from the classification above, coordination can be horizontal (i. between organizations of one government level) and vertical (i. between government levels). In a country, many organizations are interdependent.
Many of their issues require coordinative settlement by two or more organisations. Inter-organisational coordination involves joint-efforts based on established rules between involved parties to settle their common issues. Different organizations will coordinate to settle or implement one issue related to them together. This principle is depicted in Figure 1.