Public Sector Organisations as Agents of Transformations

This technical report discusses the role of Public Sector Organisations (PSOs) as agents of transformation in addressing complex societal issues, particularly in the context of sustainable development. It outlines a framework for analyzing the structural changes necessary within PSOs to enhance their transformative capacities. The report begins by establishing the need for a proactive state role in tackling challenges such as climate change, emphasizing that PSOs must adapt their structures and capabilities to collaborate effectively with various stakeholders, including businesses and civil society. The authors present empirical data collected from the German Ministry for the Environment to illustrate their analytical framework. The report is structured into several sections, including an introduction to the topic, an exploration of the organisational anchoring of transformative capacities, and a discussion of methods and data. It concludes with a summary of the main findings and the implications for PSOs in modifying traditional governance models to foster collaboration across sectors.