Obstacles to the Application of Administrative Thought to Administrative Institutions A Case Study of the Libyan Audit Bureau

Abstract

This study aims to highlight the role of administrative thought in enhancing the performance of public institutions by examining the obstacles to applying administrative thought within the Libyan Audit Bureau, as one of the country’s key oversight institutions. Despite efforts toward administrative reform and modernization, institutions still face numerous challenges—particularly in the technical and informational domains, employee acceptance of change, and weaknesses in training and administrative preparedness.

The research focuses on analyzing the gap between the theoretical principles of modern administrative thought and the actual practices within the Audit Bureau. The study seeks to diagnose the technical, human, and organizational barriers that hinder the effective implementation of contemporary management practices. Using a descriptive-analytical methodology supported by literature review and field studies, the findings reveal that inadequate information infrastructure, internal resistance to change, and a limited culture of administrative quality are among the primary impediments to the successful application of administrative concepts.

The statistical analysis results revealed a widespread recognition among the sample individuals of significant obstacles hindering the application of administrative thought, with an overall agreement average of approximately 71%. Cultural and organizational barriers ranked highest in impact, due to the strong presence of traditional culture and inflexible organizational structures, followed by employee resistance to change, reflecting weaknesses in awareness programs, incentives, and active participation. Technical and informational barriers came third, attributed to poor infrastructure, limited investment in smart systems, and frequent technical failures. Hypothesis testing confirmed that all types of examined obstacles have a statistically significant effect on the application of administrative thought. Among the most impactful statements for each dimension were: lack of technical infrastructure, insufficient motivation for job excellence, and absence of awareness campaigns emphasizing the importance of change.