The case of New York City's public personnel system: the overregulated civil service

The civil service system in New York, NY, is in need of a drastic overhaul. Cumbersome and excessively rule-bound, the city's civil service structure makes it almost impossible for administrators to recruit competent managers, promote high-performing leaders or even eliminate incompetent staffers. An analysis of the system's operations reveals that the need for reform is most urgent in dismissal, promotion and hiring procedures.