Crisis Management in the Public Sector in Romania: Between Resilience and Transformation
This study investigates the effects of crises on human resource management in the public sector, with a particular focus on recruitment and retention processes during the COVID-19 pandemic. The analysis centers on the response of Romania’s National Agency of Civil Servants (NACS) to unprecedented c...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Editura ASE, Publishing House of The Bucharest University of Economic Studies
2025-08-01
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| Series: | Applied Research in Administrative Sciences |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://aras.ase.ro/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/DRUGAU.VICTORIA_ARAS-2025.pdf |
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| author | DRUGĂU-CONSTANTIN Andreea Ligia VICTORIA Dariana |
| author_facet | DRUGĂU-CONSTANTIN Andreea Ligia VICTORIA Dariana |
| author_sort | DRUGĂU-CONSTANTIN Andreea Ligia |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This study investigates the effects of crises on human resource management in the public sector, with a particular focus on recruitment and retention processes during the COVID-19 pandemic. The analysis centers on the response of
Romania’s National Agency of Civil Servants (NACS) to unprecedented challenges in workforce planning, candidate selection, and employee well-being.
Using a quantitative methodology, data were collected via a structured online questionnaire distributed to 107 permanent NACS employees, of which 85 (79%) completed it. The findings reveal significant disruptions in recruitment
activity, with 76% of respondents perceiving a decline in position occupancy and 85% indicating that digital recruitment methods limited candidate accessibility. Major constraints included reduced financial resources, postponed
competitions, platform instability, and poor internet connectivity. Psychological stress was reported by the majority of employees, especially during prolonged remote work or early lockdown periods, while ineffective internal communication was also associated with increased tension and uncertainty.
Despite these challenges, the study also highlights perceived advantages of digitalization, including improved administrative efficiency, faster communication, and better access to evaluation materials. The research emphasizes the need for adaptive, inclusive, and resilient HR strategies in the public sector, drawing key lessons from the crisis for future institutional preparedness and policy development. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-cf8d6f92457347fb8ec17d5c552faff5 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2734-5602 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | Editura ASE, Publishing House of The Bucharest University of Economic Studies |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Applied Research in Administrative Sciences |
| spelling | doaj-art-cf8d6f92457347fb8ec17d5c552faff52025-08-20T03:46:57ZengEditura ASE, Publishing House of The Bucharest University of Economic StudiesApplied Research in Administrative Sciences2734-56022025-08-01621423https://doi.org/10.24818/ARAS/2025/6/2.02Crisis Management in the Public Sector in Romania: Between Resilience and TransformationDRUGĂU-CONSTANTIN Andreea Ligia0https://orcid.org/0009-0007-0908-4609VICTORIA Dariana1Bucharest University of Economic Studies, RomaniaBucharest University of Economic Studies, RomaniaThis study investigates the effects of crises on human resource management in the public sector, with a particular focus on recruitment and retention processes during the COVID-19 pandemic. The analysis centers on the response of Romania’s National Agency of Civil Servants (NACS) to unprecedented challenges in workforce planning, candidate selection, and employee well-being. Using a quantitative methodology, data were collected via a structured online questionnaire distributed to 107 permanent NACS employees, of which 85 (79%) completed it. The findings reveal significant disruptions in recruitment activity, with 76% of respondents perceiving a decline in position occupancy and 85% indicating that digital recruitment methods limited candidate accessibility. Major constraints included reduced financial resources, postponed competitions, platform instability, and poor internet connectivity. Psychological stress was reported by the majority of employees, especially during prolonged remote work or early lockdown periods, while ineffective internal communication was also associated with increased tension and uncertainty. Despite these challenges, the study also highlights perceived advantages of digitalization, including improved administrative efficiency, faster communication, and better access to evaluation materials. The research emphasizes the need for adaptive, inclusive, and resilient HR strategies in the public sector, drawing key lessons from the crisis for future institutional preparedness and policy development.https://aras.ase.ro/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/DRUGAU.VICTORIA_ARAS-2025.pdfpublic sectorcrisis managementcovid-19 pandemicresiliencehuman resource |
| spellingShingle | DRUGĂU-CONSTANTIN Andreea Ligia VICTORIA Dariana Crisis Management in the Public Sector in Romania: Between Resilience and Transformation Applied Research in Administrative Sciences public sector crisis management covid-19 pandemic resilience human resource |
| title | Crisis Management in the Public Sector in Romania: Between Resilience and Transformation |
| title_full | Crisis Management in the Public Sector in Romania: Between Resilience and Transformation |
| title_fullStr | Crisis Management in the Public Sector in Romania: Between Resilience and Transformation |
| title_full_unstemmed | Crisis Management in the Public Sector in Romania: Between Resilience and Transformation |
| title_short | Crisis Management in the Public Sector in Romania: Between Resilience and Transformation |
| title_sort | crisis management in the public sector in romania between resilience and transformation |
| topic | public sector crisis management covid-19 pandemic resilience human resource |
| url | https://aras.ase.ro/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/DRUGAU.VICTORIA_ARAS-2025.pdf |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT drugauconstantinandreealigia crisismanagementinthepublicsectorinromaniabetweenresilienceandtransformation AT victoriadariana crisismanagementinthepublicsectorinromaniabetweenresilienceandtransformation |