ARE PROJECTS CHANGING PUBLIC SERVANTS INTO PROJECTARIANS? PROJECTIFICATION’S INFLUENCE ON EMPLOYEES IN THE POLISH PUBLIC SECTOR
ARE PROJECTS CHANGING PUBLIC SERVANTS INTO PROJECTARIANS? PROJECTIFICATION’S INFLUENCE ON EMPLOYEES IN THE POLISH PUBLIC SECTOR

Summary/Abstract: Projects pervade public organisations and influence the way they solve complex and complicated social and organisational problems. The consequence of the poliferation of projects is called projectification: more and more activities are being transformed into projects. Projectification also seems to change significantly the situation of public servants, and not only the organisations. They are expected to assume the dual role of a public servant and of the project/portfolio/program manager/project team member. Research aims. The aim of this paper is to address the research problem concerning the influence of projectification processes on public servants in Poland. Methodology. The paper is of a conceptual character (based on literature review), although it is also illustrated by an empirical example. Key findings. The employees of public organisations perceive themselves as public servants in the first place, not as project managers or project workers. Although project work has an impact on the ethos of their work, it seems that it does not harm or influence their professional identity: they remain public sector servants in their opinion. However, considering the relatively low salaries in the Polish public sector, the temporariness of their employment and stress related to project work, public servants may be in danger of becoming in the future the projectariat – the precariat class of project workers in the public sector.

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