Study On Problems Of Management System In Chinese Development Zones

Chinese development zone is a product of the "reform and opening up" policy. From 1984 when development zones first established till now, over 20 years has witnessed great achievements made by development zones, growing from scratch, going through twists and turns and becoming stronger and stronger. The achievements include:1) with the constant enhancement of economic strength, it becomes more export-oriented; 2) industrial agglomeration effect emphasized, high and new industries increasingly expanding; 3) land resources exploited intensively effective, producing relatively high-standard output benefits; 4) urbanization promoted, investment environment improved; 5) management system innovated, social undertakings explored and developed. Evaluating the results, we can conclude that development zone has greatly promoted our national economic growth, and the original intention to establish the development zones is thus realized.Some weak points, however, are also undeniably discovered. With two national "development zone crazes" in 1992 and in 1999 respectively, various development zones expanded dramatically, followed by all kinds of problems emerging endlessly. In those special situations, different kinds of development zones were re-evaluated and some were cleared out in 1993 and 2003. Those remained are now facing the problem as how to improve their "comprehensive competitiveness". Among all factors to determine a development zone's comprehensive competitiveness, soft competitiveness takes the key position. Whether a development zone will succeed or not is of course determined by the attractiveness and optimum distribution of the agent of production; however, in the final analysis, it is determined by the soft competitiveness created by the management system in the development zones. With a well-organized management system, the development- zone will attract funds, personnel and technology even if it previously does not have them; on the contrary, without such a good management system, the development zone will lose these even if it previously has them.During the developmental period of over two decades, China's development zones have roughly gone through four phases, namely, SAR imitation, all-around construction, clean-up and rectification and steady development. And three relatively independent management systems with Chinese characteristics came into being, namely, "Government-oriented Management System", "Enterprise-oriented Management System", and "Mixed System of Government and Enterprises", each of which has its own characteristics, both positive and negative, but also shares some characteristics in common.But it also should be noted that development zones are now experiencing great changes in the policy circumstances, economic circumstances, as well as competitive circumstances, which has challenged the previously effective management systems in development zones. And problems also exist in these management systems themselves: 1) Regression of management system to traditional system is largely seen. With more and more management organizations and institutions coming into being, the efficiency of management is declining; there is also a regression from management back to administration; the innovation and reform consciousness among the management staff is also weakening. 2) The legal status of administrative committee of development zones is implicit. It has never been legalized nation-wide as to make clear about the properties, status and authorities of the administrative committee in development zones. Its status as administration subject, in particular, is always greatly questioned and will serve as a restrictive factor for the development of development zones. 3) The function of the administrative committee management is ambiguous. "Enclosed management, opening operation", which is the ideal symbol as well as the greatest merit of management system in development zones, fails to come into being. With the expansion of development scale and management scope, administrative committee is made to undertake too many functions for social administration and service. A unified and effective operation mechanism is therefore restricted. All the problems above have seriously affected the competitiveness and further development of the development zones.Then how should we try to understand the current management system in the development zones in China? How to analyze the existing problems lying in the management system? How to learn from the international management system of the development zones? How to put forward policies and proposals about the improvement and innovation of its management system? These are not only practical problems for the governments at different levels to take seriously and solve promptly, but also theoretical issues for scholars to take deep thinking and profound research. The significances of this dissertation are as follows: to scientifically define the concept of development zone as well as its management system, serving as a foundation to scientifically analyze the related concepts; to accurately figure out the current problems lying in the management system in Chinese development zones so as to get an overall view of its current situation; to deeply analyze the current situation of management system in local development zones in order to search for data through a micro-survey of the difficult situation at a macro-level; to carefully consider the reform measures for management system to accelerate the sound progress of Chinese development zones.Various research methods are applied accordingly in this dissertation, mainly including literature research, comparative research and historical research; examples and case studies discussing the changes and current situation of Liaocheng development zone are also employed to better illustrate the types and changes of management systems of development zones.The existing problems listed above can be attributed to reasons of various aspects: First, the government hasn't decreed a national development zone law. And the running of all the development zones merely depends on the local regulations and ministration rules which has little legal force. Second, the external function of the development zones lacks main management, especially in social management and service. The government and the related departments don't take their responsibilities. And as intermediary agents in society have not developed completely, the management committee is forced to shoulder too much social management and service functions. Third, the management system of development zones, under the pressure of the expansion of the function of the development zones, the interference of the traditional executive system as well as the economic interest and mind, often makes the new management system of the development zones get into unstable state and under the attraction of "route dependence" it gradually goes back to the traditional management system.Due to the above problems, development zones can hardly adopt real "closed management" and thus lack strength to promote sustainable development. Obviously, problems mentioned not being solved promptly, development zones will be prevented from further development and the advantages will reduce even to nothing.To solve these problems we can properly draw some lessons and experiences from other countries and regions in the world. In Chinese development zones, "Government-oriented Management System" takes the lead, which allows government to directly participate and supervise in a large scope and to a great extent, in economic management as well as in administration management and social management; whereas in other countries, the major management system is realized by scientific industrial parks guided by foundation, in which the government mainly shows its support through policies and funds rather than through direct administration. But in foreign countries' development zones, less and less intervention from government can be found. So the below suggestions are brought about: 1) to reinforce the construction of legal system in development zones to further legalize the administrative subject status of the administrative committee, to legalize organizational management system, major management functions, management authority, as well as development policies, to legalize the conditions and procedures of organization establishment, leadership system and decision-making mechanism; 2) to make clear about the management authorities and management functions in development zones, so as to establish a unified and authoritative external administrative organization and to rationalize and scientifically set up internal administrative organization; 3) to enhance the function of public service in development zones. We should try to develop non-profit organizations of public service and assist mediate organizations in order to make up the weaknesses in respect of social functions in our management system in development zones, to increase its quality in public services and guarantee the efficiency in administrative committee of the development zones; 4) to endow the development zones with rights of innovation experiment. In respect of organization structuring, a flexible government organization should be adopted, or an ad hoc task organization can also be employed to strengthen the flexibility. With regard to personnel management, cadres should be appointed flexibly, public servers and temporary stuffs should also be employed flexibly so as to go against the "lifelong" and "stable" bureaucracy. This will help add energy to organizations and cut administrative costs in the development zones. Development zones can only stay energetic and dynamic, be more comprehensively competitive to constantly achieve great merits when various measurements are adopted and constant innovation applied to administrative management systems.