Abstract

The project „Governance and Implementation Practice“ is part of the evaluation of the new job creation schemes established by articles 16e and 16i of the German Social Code II. It is funded by the German Federal Ministry of Labor within the framework of article 55. It assesses different ways of implementing the schemes and looks at factors that may lead to a successful or problematic execution. Studying „governance“ implies the notion that there is no linear process of implementation but rather varying constellations of institutional influences, actors and regional specifics that lead to different ways how the job creation schemes are managed at the local level. Dimensions of investigation are the legal framing of the new instruments and the processes of planning, managing and control. Moreover, the analysis of implementation practice looks at the early stages of implementation (organizational changes, training etc.) and, subsequently, the normal operation, specifically selecting participants, cooperation within the job centers, the role of the job coaches and the whole complex of counselling and assistance. The project follows a mixed methods approach with a rather strong focus on the qualitative side. Research tools comprise background interviews with decision makers, organization case studies in selected job centers mostly based on document analyses and subsequent qualitative interviewing, and a standardized survey with placement officers and case managers.