Reliability
Z Encyklopedia Administracji Publicznej
RELIABILITY – according to John Rawls, it means acting according to the rules of the institution, provided that two requirements are met: firstly, the institution is fair (i.e. reliable and impartial) and, secondly, the benefits offered by the institution are voluntarily accepted. The canons of reliability of a public administration official include: conscientious work, striving to achieve the best possible results in compliance with the law, → responsibility, punctuality, activity, loyalty to the government and superiors (→ political neutrality), executing orders of superiors and not discrediting them in the eyes of other subordinates, actively supporting the actions of superiors. The reliability in essence means treating one’s professional duties with seriousness, performing tasks competently and without delay, accuracy, business-like character, diligence, honesty, dutifulness, meticulousness, acting in compliance with the regulations, performance in accordance with the Code of Administrative Procedure (especially regarding meeting deadlines), performing duties to the best of knowledge and with full commitment. The expression of reliability can be observed in the performance of tasks by the official imposed by the law (the so-called hard law) and ethical codes (the so-called soft law). Reliability of the public administration official influences the image of the state. From the point of view of the → control of public administration, reliability includes an assessment of the performance with due diligence on the conduct of the activity as well as on the merit of the carried out tasks, and the concept of reliability covers keeping up the existing standards and rules [ J. Itrich-Drabarek ].
Literature: J. Itrich-Drabarek, The Civil Service in Poland – Theory and Experience, Frankfurt am Main 2015 ■ J. Jagielski, Kontrola administracji publicznej [Control of public administration], Warszawa 2007 ■ J. Rawls, Teoria sprawiedliwości [A Theory of Justice], Warszawa 1994.