Research on the Japanese Civil Service System

Author: Yan Shusen
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2001-11-01
Features: The Japanese civil service system is composed of three parts: institutional structure, administrative behavior, and mental state, with the rational allocation of power at its core. The research at these three levels addresses what the Japanese civil service system is in a static state, what it should be in a dynamic administrative process, and why. Based on the description of the institutional structure, this paper focuses on the behavior and motivations of the Japanese civil service system. How the civil service system operates depends critically on the political environment it is in and the organizational mechanisms it faces. The mental state of civil servants stems from the organization's mission, and it depends on the organizational culture of the civil service organization. The organization's mission promotes member behavior and exerts a certain influence on the discretionary power of frontline employees. Individual and organizational behavior primarily depend on the positioning of the civil service organization in the administrative process, which determines the nature and requirements of the tasks it undertakes. The core proposition of this paper is: due to the scarcity of resources in Japan, there has been a broad scope of jurisdiction for the central ministries, excessive government regulation, and a strong centralization of power in the government management model. This model determines the positioning of the Japanese civil service system in the political process. The effective operation of the Japanese civil service system stems from the contradictory process of power struggles between politicians and the civil service organization in the political process. This contradictory process continuously improves the operational mechanisms of the civil service system, enhances the team structure, and strengthens team spirit. Based on the differences in the nature of tasks and organizational characteristics between politicians and the civil service organization, a bureaucratic-dominated political process has emerged.