The public administration of Quebec: in search of a cultural change

Abstract

In this article we attempted to identify the cultural traits of the public administration of Quebec, in addition to reviewing the cultural changes that occurred following the administrative reform that came into effect in this Canadian province in the 1990s. As a concept of culture we used a set of values and artifacts whose meanings guide the behavior of individuals and is subject to changes through cultural learning processes (Davel, Dupuis, & Chanlat, 2008; Sainsaulieu, 1977). The research methodology used was the discourse analysis based on the dimensions of figures and themes that are present in the discourses (Fiorin, 2008). The data were collected from books and articles published in the main Canadian journals, with emphasis on the publications of the École Nationale d´Administration Publique (ENAP, Quebec). Documents of the Quebec government that were available on the website were also used, in addition to interviews given by 3 (three) ENAP researchers. It was shown that organizational culture occupied an important space in the objectives of changes in the administrative reform and that there is an ongoing process of cultural change. Topics such as professionalization, equality and flexibility have begun to become part of the collective representations of the individuals in the public organizations of this province.

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