To get things done, a minister needs to be agile. However, political accountability and bureaucratic rigidity limit ministers’ much-needed managerial flexibility.

To see how political accountability plays out, consider planning and budgeting, both of which are parts of core government activities conducted ahead of the new fiscal year. The programs and budget of 2020, for example, were formulated earlier this year.

The deliberation process is long and involves many stakeholders. A ministry needs to coordinate with the National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas) and the Finance Ministry. Then, the House of Representatives must approve the proposed programs.

While the system is meant to ensure sufficient checks and balances, it restricts ministers’ capacity to unilaterally adjust the sails if the wind shifts during implementation.

For now, at least, this has been taken care of. Jokowi has secured the support of a majority in the House, and ministers can rest assured that opposition will be minimal. Greater focus should, therefore, be directed toward internal rather than external consolidation.

Addressing bureaucratic rigidity could be equally, if not more, challenging. There are at least two constraints in this regard.

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