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Reducing bureaucracy - via digitalization? A panel with MdL Walter Nussel

Updated: Dec 4





In my panel discussion with Walter Nussel, MDL, and a brief interaction with Clemens Baumgärtner, Economic Affairs Officer of the City of Munich, I noticed the following points:

  • the work to reduce bureaucracy currently runs via individual practice checks which result in a great deal of administrative resources being laboriously coordinated - but the gains achieved are extremely manageable. This was underlined by numerous anecdotes. Conclusion: no liberation in sight

  • our authorities and agencies are actually very busy with each other. Conclusion: only a few resources remain for entrepreneurs and citizens as the actual main customers (and sponsors).

  • Digitization efforts attempt to digitize current processes - without first questioning the necessity or optimizing the process

 

There was noticeable nervousness in the audience - unfortunately, the radical proposals made were not taken up and discussed - there was not enough time for that.

 

What were they?

For example

  • define and measure key performance indicators for each process

  • to simply define top-down maximum times for the annoying long runners in the approval process (this regulation could apply for two years, for example - keyword “emergency acceleration”) - and then AUTOMATICALLY grant approval if there is no justified objection from the authorities. Advantage: since the authorities only have limited resources, they concentrate on the really important processes (example: is the roof color, inclination and orientation of a new building really that important compared to the industrial settlement around the corner?)

  • every regulation is given an expiry date - on which it expires unless it is renewed (then perhaps with new majorities)

  • every new ordinance must replace at least one other ordinance

  • every regulation must formulate key figures and targets - and after a year, for example, success is measured.

This should free the authorities and offices from operational work at least for the emergency period - in order to prepare for the future.

 

Well - in the end, the evening was at least a realization of how things can't go on.

Fun fact: all panelists got a bottle of wine - except me:



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