Grading state services
The Interior Ministry is setting up a «Citizen Satisfaction Barometer» as a way of showing solidarity with beleaguered Greeks in their dealings with the civil services. The designers of the barometer believe that processing the information they obtain will provide them with a tool for improving these services. «This is a system for the continual evaluation of the public’s attitudes, beliefs, needs, expectations and satisfaction levels in their contacts with all kinds of services,» said Interior Minister Costas Skandalidis. «It is the exploration of the public’s view of the way the State functions.» In practice, public opinion in general and in groups (such as geographical or social) will be evaluated as to their views of the effectiveness of services and specific measures or policies. Monitoring will be both continual and at short intervals of one to two months. Issues under the microscope will vary according to need, but will include things such as reactions to natural or other catastrophes, policies on immigration or the repatriation of ethnic Greeks from other countries, the organization and functioning of local government, afternoon services, and the civil service hotline (1502). The National Center for Public Administration will probably analyze and make use of the barometer readings in cooperation with technical advisers who will set specifications for field studies and analyze the statistical surveys. A market research company will carry out the surveys, initially via phone interviews, and a ministry team will be briefed on the results at regular intervals.
