NPM, Business Process Re-engineering and Local Governments: The Case of Local Business Permitting and Licensing System Regulatory Reform

Abstract

The article explores the process of re-engineering in the business permitting and licensing systems (BPLS) of local governments over a five-year period (2010-2015). Review of secondary data and official documents on the BPLS reform program and process analysis of the streamlining approaches used by two local government units (LGUs) for their BPLS procedures both reveal differences, limitations, and constraints in implementation at the local level. The article argues that, despite the attempt to converge BPLS streamlining efforts by issuing uniform standards and guidelines, implementation varies due to the decentralized and political context, the local government officials’ understanding of the process and its elements, and their perception of the policy problem. The article then suggests areas for future research along this line.