Rethinking Human Resources in Public Administration: An Empirical Analysis of the Problem of the Ineffective Usage of Human Resources in the Public Sector

Year 2024, Volume: 23 Issue: 3, 1060 - 1071, 30.07.2024

Adem Esen Muhammed Zahid Çığman Mustafa Demirkol Mahmut Hüdayi Özgül

https://doi.org/10.21547/jss.1355728

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to explore the possible causes and consequences of the problem of ineffective utilization of human resources in the public sector, with reference to the philosophy of "Let the people live so that the state may live", through the extreme example of passive public servants in the public sector, who are also characterized as " benched ". The lack of research focusing on the ineffective usage of human resources in Turkish public administration requires the study to use a research design with a strong exploratory aspect. The importance of this study is to contribute to the knowledge in the focus on the problem of effective use of human resources, which has been constantly mentioned but has not been empirically investigated until now. It is possible to be carried out within the framework of the study to collect and analyze data more easily, especially on sensitive issues such as inactive public officials. Qualitative case design allows to obtain detailed information about a particular social/administrative situation, event, or group and to make unique discoveries about problems. Face-to-face interviews were conducted with 47 public employees in the study sample. The reasons for the ineffective usage of human resources can be summarized as follows; Political patronage relations, nepotism, incompetence, unawareness, etc. Consequences of ineffective usage of human resources can be summarized as; loss of motivation and possible job dissatisfaction and problems of person-environment fit, financial weakness, loss of national performance, loss of confidence, loss of individual performance, and inefficiency.

Keywords

Human Resources, Human Capital, Public Sector, Ineffective Usage of Human Resources, Public Personnel Management

Ethical Statement

For the interviews within the scope of this study, ethics committee approvals were obtained from the Istanbul University Rectorate Social and Human Sciences Research Ethics Committee.

Supporting Institution

İstanbul University Scientific Research Projects Coordination Unit

Project Number

SBA-2022-36779

Thanks

This study was supported by Istanbul University Scientific Research Projects Coordination Unit (Project No: SBA-2022-36779).

Rethinking Human Resources in Public Administration: An Empirical Analysis of the Problem of the Ineffective Usage of Human Resources in the Public Sector

Abstract

Bu çalışmanın amacı, “İnsanı yaşat ki devlet yaşasın” felsefesinden referansla kamu sektöründe insan kaynaklarının etkin kullanılamaması sorununun olası neden ve sonuçlarını, uç bir örnek olan ve kamu sektöründe "kızak kadro" olarak da nitelendirilen pasif kamu görevlileri üzerinden araştırmaktır. Türk kamu yönetiminde insan kaynaklarının etkin kullanılmamasına odaklanan araştırmaların eksikliği, çalışmanın keşfedici yönü güçlü bir araştırma tasarımı kullanmasını gerektirmektedir. Bu nedenle nitel araştırma tasarımının kullanıldığı bu çalışmanın önemi, sürekli dile getirilen ancak bugüne kadar ampirik olarak araştırılmamış olan kamu kesimindeki insan kaynaklarının etkin kullanımı sorunu odağında bilgi birikimine katkı sağlamaktır. Özellikle pasif kamu görevlileri gibi hassas konularda daha kolay veri toplamak ve analiz etmek için çalışma çerçevesinde yürütülmesi mümkündür. Nitel vaka tasarımı, belirli bir sosyal/idari durum, olay ya da grup hakkında detaylı bilgi edinmeye ve sorunlara ilişkin özgün keşifler yapmaya olanak tanır. Çalışma örnekleminde yer alan 47 kamu çalışanı ile yüz yüze görüşmeler gerçekleştirilerek alan araştırması tamamlanmıştır. Alan araştırmasından elde edilen bulguların analizine göre kamu kesimindeki insan kaynaklarının etkin kullanılmamasının nedenleri şu şekilde özetlenebilir: Siyasi patronaj ilişkileri, kayırmacılık, beceriksizlik, bilgisizlik vb. Bununla birlikte insan kaynaklarının etkin kullanılmamasının sonuçları ise motivasyon kaybı ve olası iş tatminsizliği ve kişi-çevre uyumu sorunları, finansal zayıflık, ulusal performans kaybı, güven kaybı, bireysel performans kaybı ve verimsizlik olarak özetlenebilir.

Keywords

İnsan Kaynakları, İnsan Sermayesi, Kamu Sektörü, İnsan Kaynaklarının Etkin Kullanımı, Kamu Personel Yönetimi

Ethical Statement

Bu çalışma kapsamındaki görüşmeler için İstanbul Üniversitesi Rektörlüğü Sosyal ve Beşeri Bilimler Araştırmaları Etik Kurulu Başkanlığı'ndan etik kurul ayrılıkları bulunmaktadır.

Supporting Institution

İstanbul Üniversitesi Bilimsel Araştırma Projeleri Koordinasyon Birimi

Project Number

SBA-2022-36779

Thanks

Bu çalışma İstanbul Üniversitesi Bilimsel Araştırma Projeleri Koordinasyon Birimi (Proje No: SBA-2022-36779) tarafından desteklenmiştir.

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