In 2000, OECD made a survey for its members and found that among all pubic departments in modern countries, leadership was the most in need of improvement. Based on the finding, the Examination Yuan asked Minister of Civil Service to draft a plan on the selection, promotion and transfer, performance evaluation, and payment in the administration system for senior executives. Through those issues, it could establish a special and different administration system from the current one, including training, development, and employment of executives, and use this system as the main scheme to push ahead government administration.
So far, this system includes six key points: “Rigorous Selection”, “Professional Training at the National Academy of Civil Service”, “Building a Talent Bank of Executives”, “Establishing a Committee of Cross-Department Selection and Cultivation”, “Setting up an Exclusive Salary System”, and “Designing a Quality Evaluation and Exit Mechanism”.
This study not only refers to the advantages and successful experiences of senior civil service from advanced countries, but also considers the special situation in Taiwan, so that its conclusion will be more feasible and more condusive to building a culture for an advanced civil service. For example, the study finds that Taiwan has followed the basic rules of examinations as stipulated in the Constitution that are close-ended, not open to external competitions.
Furthermore, Taiwan’s system uses the merit principle as the general rule to manage civil service. This principle is restricting the Senior Executives Administration System, and thus the essence of its planning strategy.