Cutting-edge technologies, namely artificial intelligence and robotic automationleverages it Ministry of Interior for the targeting and evaluation of managers in public services with the aim of enhancing efficiency and transparency.

Last Thursday, March 21, a special platform was launched, through which the evaluators are asked to confirm or modify the objectives that have already been set, i.e. to harmonize them with the principles of SMART goal setting {Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Timely}.

The first phase of the assessment for 2023 saw the submission of more than 20,000 assessment forms, including a total of 114,000 targets.

These technologies were used for the first time to analyze and process objectives, identifying those that do not meet the SMART criteria and recommending improvements to align them with quality standards. In addition to identifying deficiencies, specific recommendations for improving objectives were also generated, thus providing a powerful tool for evaluators to formulate more effective strategies.

This process is intended to make it easier for evaluators to provide feedback and improve the goals, while promoting their education and training to better implement the goal-setting process. In addition, a pilot process was carried out in selected public bodies to further improve the definition of the objectives through their processing by experienced analysts.

In a next phase, each head of the public sector will be able to consult a “dictionary of goals” when setting goals for his department. In other words, he will have at his disposal a list of proposed objectives within the digital platform, adapted to his responsibilities. Through this list, he will be able to select or adjust the proposed targets according to his needs. Apart from this, the ministry plans to use artificial intelligence to introduce a digital assistant, which will support supervisors in the targeting process.

Evaluators have until April 5 to use the special application developed to validate the 2023 targets. Despite the support offered by artificial intelligence and robotic automation, the final decision to validate the targets remains with the evaluators , confirming their autonomy and responsibility in the evaluation process.

The initiative is supported by Expertise France, which is an NPDD of the French public and funded by the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Structural Reform Support (DG Reform).

Empowerment and training of civil servants

The emphasis on the use of technologies such as artificial intelligence and robotic automation is part of a wider strategy to enhance efficiency and transparency in public administration. These efforts reflect a more flexible and effective approach to assessment and goal achievement, underscoring the importance of innovation in the public sector.

After the completion of the target validation process, the final results will be incorporated into the Public Sector Human Resources Register, resulting in the completion of the evaluation process for the year 2023 and the 2024 target.

The Home Office has published a Targeting Handbook on the Census website, providing guidance and advice on the targeting process. Combined with the provision of specialized interactive workshops and training programs, the understanding and implementation of the new targeting system is enhanced. These programs, organized by the Training Institute of the National Center for Public Administration and Self-Government, offer both theoretical and practical training, helping evaluators to fully understand the processes required for effective target setting.

V. Charalambogiannis: “We are creating a much better tomorrow for the Greek State”

The implementation of this new approach to public sector management reflects a more general direction towards innovation, improving efficiency and increasing transparency in public services. With the help of technology, the Ministry of Home Affairs seeks to establish a more dynamic and effective system of administration, which will ensure that civil servants and superiors are fully oriented towards the achievement of specific, measurable goals that serve the common interest.

THE Deputy Minister of the Interior, Vivi Charalambogianni, in a recent statement highlighted the importance of this reform, stressing that it is a major pillar for upgrading public services and improving the service of citizens: “An emblematic change in the way the public sector operates, is now a fact. The decision to leverage artificial intelligence and robotic automation in the administration of public organizations is part of our ongoing commitment to innovation and enhanced services to citizens. This reform is the result of a careful and well-planned down to the last detail many months of effort at the Ministry of the Interior, in close collaboration with DG Reform and Expertise France. With the ratification process that started on Thursday, the target setting emerges in practice as yet another important initiative in the effort to optimize the operation of the Greek State. Our unchanging purpose remains to strengthen the efficiency and effectiveness of public services and to provide better and better quality services to citizens. We are putting into practice the Prime Minister’s commitment to the citizens, who in the program statements of our government had said that a Fair Greece “is founded first and foremost on accountability, transparency and above all on the continuous evaluation of all services and all its potential public administration”. At the Ministry of the Interior, together with Minister Niki Kerameos, we are creating a much better tomorrow for the Greek State and its contact with the citizens”, pointed out Mrs. Charalambogianni.

The future of public administration seems to be set in motion by initiatives that will lead to more efficient and transparent public services. With the support of advanced technologies and the emphasis on the training and education of human resources, this process marks a new chapter in the provision of public services in Greece. Citizens look forward to the positive developments that will emerge from these reforms, hoping for a more efficient and accessible public administration that will serve their needs with transparency and integrity.