Modernising public administration with Petra Mai-Hartung & Dr Sevda Helpap
In this episode of the AMTLICH VORAN podcast, I speak with Petra Mai-Hartung, Managing Director of studierendenWERK BERLIN, and Dr Sevda Helpap, Managing Director at Baumgartner & Co. Together, they offer a very candid insight into a far-reaching organisational restructuring: Administrative structures that had evolved over time have given rise to a central ‘Werkzentrale’ – with clearer lines of responsibility, better collaboration and more scope for strategic leadership.
The fascinating thing is that this transformation was explicitly not about job cuts. It was about reducing complexity, breaking down silos, redistributing responsibility – and creating an organisation in which people can work happily and effectively.
One thing Petra said really stuck in my mind:
“We’ve simply found channels and systems that everyone trusts.”
And perhaps that is precisely the secret to successful administrative modernisation: the problems do not suddenly disappear – but the organisation becomes much better at dealing with them.
🏗️ From silos to a shared operations centre
Over the years, complex structures, numerous interfaces and, in some cases, unclear areas of responsibility had developed. The response to this was clear-cut: to merge administrative departments, reduce the number from nine to six, and create a unified structure centred on the works headquarters.
🤝 Nevertheless, participation requires clear decisions
Employees were not simply presented with a ready-made organisational chart; instead, they were given a say in shaping the change. At the same time, the project demonstrates that participation only works if certain fundamental decisions are not constantly called into question – otherwise, the organisation risks slipping back into old structures.
🚀 Why the PMO became a game-changer
The role of the permanently established Project Management Office (PMO) is particularly interesting. What initially sounded rather abstract, even to Petra, is now an important strategic tool: projects are planned and prioritised in a structured manner, budgets and time resources are taken into account, and project management skills are systematically developed.
🔗 Further links
Petra Mai-Hartung on LinkedIn
Dr Sevda Helpap on LinkedIn
Dr Sevda Helpap at Baumgartner & Co.
🎧 Want to know what it really takes to modernise a public organisation in terms of its structure, culture and leadership? Then have a listen to this episode of the AMTLICH VORAN podcast with Petra Mai-Hartung and Dr Sevda Helpap!