Author Type

Graduate Student

Date of Award

2006

Document Type

Thesis

Publication Status

Version of Record

Submission Date

October 2026

Thesis/Dissertation Advisor [Chair]

Farazmand, Ali

Abstract

Privatization has been a major policy and administrative reform all over the world for the last twenty-five years. Public bureaucracy is one of the first institutions of government to be affected by privatization as a reform. The major purpose of this dissertation was to examine the perception of the civil servants of Bangladesh towards privatization with respect to national development. In order to examine the perception of Bangladeshi civil servants, this dissertation has examined the answers to the question: "What are the perceptions of civil servants in Bangladesh towards privatization with respect to national development?" It has also examined the differences in the perceptions of different levels of civil servants with respect to national development. To examine the perceptions of the civil servants data were collected from 120 civil servants of six ministries in Bangladesh through a survey instrument and personal interviews. The methodologies used in this dissertation were interviews and case studies. The 120 civil servants were randomly selected from six ministries and/or attached departments or subordinate offices; they were interviewed to collect data for examining their perceptions towards privatization with respect to national development. Using government documents and examining some cases, this study also examined the earlier success and failure of privatization programs in Bangladesh with respect to national development as a means to explain the perception of civil servants of Bangladesh. This dissertation has developed propositions about the perception of civil servants of Bangladesh towards privatization with respect to national development. Analysis of data reveals that the civil servants of Bangladesh have positive perceptions towards privatization with respect to national development. The study also reveals that there is no significant difference in the perceptions of different levels of civil servants of Bangladesh towards privatization with respect to national development. The dissertation study reveals that the majority of the civil servants in Bangladesh believe that privatization programs will positively affect economic, social, political and administrative development in Bangladesh. Findings of the study also reveal that the civil servants of Bangladesh believe that privatization program will increase accountability, skills, service delivery and performance of employees, which help promote national development. The study, moreover, shows that although the civil servants of Bangladesh have positive perception towards privatization with respect to national development, many of them are also doubtful about the implementation of privatization programs in Bangladesh. However, the case studies indicate that privatization programs in Bangladesh have mixed results. Findings of this dissertation study will enrich the literature on privatization, bureaucracy and development. Contribution to the theory of bureaucracy and reform is also significant in that bureaucracy tends to survive no matter what reform takes place, as long as there is a need to implement, oversee, and follow up on reforms. This study has significant implications for understanding the perceptions of civil servants towards privatization with respect to national development of not only third world countries, but also of developed nations. Privatization is viewed as a form of change, which is embraced as a positive reform effort toward national development. Students, academics and practitioners of economics, public administration and business studies as well as business entrepreneurs will also benefit from the findings of the study in understanding the perceptions of civil servants of third world countries towards the effects of privatization in development. This study has significant contribution not only to literature on administrative change, but also to literature on bureaucracy and development. It rejects the conventional negative perception about the role of bureaucracy in privatization. The study shows that civil servants or civil bureaucrats in Bangladesh are generally not inimical to privatization but they are in favor of privatization for national development as they believe that privatization of public enterprises positively affects national development-economically, socially, politically and administratively. Finally, this dissertation study will enhance knowledge in the area of privatization, bureaucracy and national development as the findings of the study provide new knowledge for explaining the changing perception of bureaucracy toward privatization with respect to national development. In spite of these important findings, one limitation of the study must also be noted, and that is, it only focused on 120 civil servants of the bureaucracy, and that it did not include employees of public enterprises subject to privatization. This shortcoming of the study could serve as a subject for future research.

Extent

265 p.

Comments

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2006.|Thesis (Ph.D.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2006.

Identifier

FADT12198

Format

pdf

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