Separating the strategic and operational levels: Introduction

Separating the strategic and operational levels

While well-functioning MPTAs should be based in a cooperative relationship between politicians and managers, it should also allow them to operate independently at different levels.

1. Introduction

Separation of the strategic and operational levels is one of the key success factors of a well-functioning MPTA:

Politicians should have the possibility to set strategic goals and short-term targets, within a supervisory board or authorities’ association.
At the same time, managers should have operational freedom to chose the means to achieve the targets, within the given budget.

Still, some pressure from politicians to managers is a danger. If the MPTA allocates upstream paid services at a bigger area, some rules on unification of service quality should be agreed.