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Aim
The aim of the network is threefold:
- Bringing together scholars in the field of public management, and
more specifically public sector organization, in an international perspective.
- Jointly discussing ways in which research data on the topic can be
gathered, developing tools to quantitative data gathering, and optimize
these tools.
- Analyzing these data and report on research results via publications
(articles, books, conference papers).
Characteristics
The COBRA-network is a kind of a semi-formal structure, with following
characteristics:
- Research meetings: the members meet twice a year in research
seminars, in which the overall state of the art in the field of public
sector organization is discussed, and in which the aims, strategies
and tools of the own COBRA research is discussed. These meetings are
attended by COBRA members, as well as by other scholars that show interest
in the network.
- Research strategy: the members make the commitment to develop
a survey that addresses the relevant public organizations in their country.
For reasons of comparative research between COBRA member countries,
we aim at developing surveys that have a set of common core questions
(identification data, autonomy of the organization, control of the organization
etc.)
- Research valorization: the members aim at publishing internationally
oriented and comparative research results in articles and books.
Members
Since its establishment in 2001, the COBRA network has been expanded
by new members in a gradual way.
- In a first phase, the ROKKAN centre, affiliated to the University
of Bergen (Norway) and the Institute of Public Administration in Dublin
(Ireland) joined. These two research centres, next to the Public Management
Institute of the Catholic University of Leuven, have their surveys running
now.
- In a second phase, there is a confirmed interest to join and to develop
a survey by the University of Goteborg (Sweden). Also researchers in
Australia, New Zealand, Canada, the UK and the Netherlands are aboard,
but at the moment without any survey plans.
Secretary
The secretary of COBRA is done by the Public
management Institute, more especially by Bram
Verschuere and Koen
Verhoest.
Inge Vermeulen
is the administrative responsible for web design under coordination of
Anita Van
Gils.
EGPA Study Group as Discussion
Platform
An EGPA Study Group has been created as a platform to discuss and confront
COBRA related research with other academic research in the field of public
sector organisation. The EGPA Study Group on “Governance of Public
Sector Organizations" studies various aspects of public sector organizations.
Focus is on different types of public sector organizations (ranging from
core governmental units, over different kinds of agencies, to state-owned
companies, governmental foundations and public private partnerships, as
well as agencies at supra-governmental level). Central issues under study
for the period 2006-2009 are the proliferation, autonomy and control of
such organizations; their management, identities, roles, performance and
accountability; and their coordination.
The Study Group has its own website with papers, programs and announcements.
(http://soc.kuleuven.be/io/egpa/org/)
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