CIVIL SERVICE

IN NORWAY

Daria Dehtiaruk
2 0 2 4
Content
1 Introduction

2 History of Norwegian Civil Service

3 Modern Features of Civil Service

4 Leadership in Norway’s Civil Service

5 Summary
 Introduction
NORWAY
4,7 million Population
1 was under Danish rule for 400 years
and the subordinate country in a union with
2 Sweden from 1814 until 1905
3

Absolute Monarchy Parliamentary Monarchy

4

5
1814
Constitutional Monarchy

a member of the European Economic Area

a member of NATO
 History of Norwegian Civil Service
Stage Period

1
Foundations 1814 - 1900
2
Modernization 1900 - 1945
3

4
Democratization 1945 - 1990
5

New Public Management 1990 - 2010

Recent Trends 2010 - Present

 Modern Features of Civil Service
Recruitment and training:
Merit-based
1
Open and transparent
Proffesional development
2 Diversity and inclusion

4
Managment and structure
5
Flat hierarchies
Performance-based managment
Collaboration and networking
Difgitalization
 Modern Features of Civil Service
Values and culture
Strong ethical standards
1
Public service orientation
Citizen-centric
2 Innovation and continuous improvement

4
Specific examples of modern features
5 Digital citizen services
Open data
User-centered design
Performance managmement dashboards
 Leadership in Norway’s Civil Service

5
 Leadership in Norway’s Civil Service
Chapter 2 “Focus areas for the Chapter 3 “Leadership development in
leadership in the Civil Service: the Civil Service”:
1
Key focus areas
2 Challenges and Opportunities
Leadership role
3

5
 Summary
History:
1814-1900: Centralized & efficient government
built.
1
1900-1945: Welfare state development &
professionalization.
2
1945-1990: Decentralization, transparency, & Leadership:
union influence.
3
1990-2010: Efficiency, customer service, &
Focus on results, collaboration, talent
expert-driven decisions.
4 management, & diversity.
Challenges include balancing autonomy &
accountability.
5 Modern Features: Leaders are expected to be proactive,
communicative, & empowering.
Merit-based recruitment & training.
Flat hierarchies & performance management.
Collaboration & digitalization.
Strong ethics, public service focus, & citizen-
centricity.
Resources
Leadership in Norway’s Civil Service. Norwegian Ministry of
Government Administration and Reform, 2008.
www.regjeringen.no/no/dokumenter/plattform-for-ledelse-i-
staten/id526203/

Editor Frits M. van der Meer. Civil Service Systems in Western

Europe, Second Edition. Department of Public Administration,
Leiden University, the Netherlands, 2011.

Tom Christensen, Per Lægreid. Living in the Past? Change and

Continuity in the Norwegian Central Civil Service. University of
Oslo, University of Bergen, 2009.
Thank
you!
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questions?