By: Evvi Kurnaesih) *
The government continues to realize the simplification of bureaucracy. Besides being useful to accelerate decision making, simplifying bureaucracy is believed to be able to save the state budget.
Reducing bureaucracy through simplifying the organizational structure of both the central and regional governments, is one of the points delivered by President Joko Widodo after being inaugurated as president for the second time, President Joko Widodo revealed his plan to simplify the bureaucracy through cutting down the number of echelon levels of civil servants. Civil servants affected by the simplification of the echelon level will be transferred to functional positions that better respect the expertise and competencies of each civil servant. This is a further step in the government’s efforts to carry out bureaucratic reform.
Simplification of the bureaucracy aims to create a dynamic, agile (professional) bureaucracy in an effort to increase effectiveness and efficiency in order to support government performance to the public. President Joko Widodo firmly called on ministers, officials and bureaucrats to seriously guarantee the achievement of the objectives of the development program. If anything is found that is not serious, the President will stop the person concerned from his position.
Simplification also means redesigning the organizational structure and business processes. The organization becomes simpler and more flat. The hierarchy path is much shorter. The implication is needed by high-level pratama leaders who are very strong in managerial skills and in direction. No longer allowed high leaders who are good at “empty disposition” and “know wrong”.
The restructuring of the composition of the State Civil Apparatus (ASN) is one of the instruments to realize the formation of human resources who are technically qualified, competent, professional, and have integrity.
The purpose of restructuring the composition of the ASN itself is that the apparatus structure is truly dominated by skilled and professional functional technical positions as per the vision of Forward Indonesia. The role of functional position as a professional will be even greater. The number and type of functional positions that are currently nearly 200 positions in the future will increase significantly, along with the broad spectrum of development.
Certainly not an easy job to reform the bureaucracy. Because this involves 4,286,918 ASNs throughout Indonesia, of which around 70 percent are in the Regional Government (Pemda).
Meanwhile, to support the realization of the vision of Forward Indonesia, skilled HR is needed. And, to realize that, the restructuring of the composition of the ASN is non-negotiable, it must be done. So that the composition of the ASN going forward is dominated by skilled technical functional positions.
The main purpose of simplifying the bureaucracy is first, so that the bureaucracy is more dynamic. Second, for the sake of acceleration of the work system. Third, to focus on functional work. Fourth, to encourage effectiveness and efficiency in order to be even more optimal. And fifth in order to realize the professionalism of ASN itself.
Simplification of the bureaucratic structure is needed to build bureaucratic machines that are more dynamic and professional. In addition to increasing effectiveness and efficiency in supporting the performance of government services to the public, both at central and regional agencies.
Simplification of the bureaucracy itself is to answer the weaknesses that are born from the existing bureaucratic organizational structure. At least there are some weaknesses of the current bureaucratic organizational structure.
First, a bureaucratic structure that is fat makes policy and decision making slow. Under these conditions the greater the possibility of mis-communication and mis-coordination. Bureaucratic work is increasingly inflexible and expensive. With a simplified bureaucratic structure, officials can be encouraged to innovate and produce.
Second, to realize government accountability. Because it must be admitted, indications of a corrupt bureaucratic culture that exploits and misuses offices is still common. With a simplified structure, bureaucratic performance is expected to be more efficient and effective. Because after all the fat bureaucratic structure requires a lot of costs.
The final goal of simplifying the bureaucracy itself is to build a dynamic bureaucracy that has high flexibility, capability, superior culture and performance-based organization so that it can give birth to adaptive policies that are integrated into each unit.
) * The author is a social political observer
