A formação de um servidor público inovador no ciclo das políticas públicas : contribuições a partir da matriz pragmático-sistêmica.

Abstract

This study takes as its starting point the centrality of public servants within the Brazilian Public Administration, recognizing them as decisive actors in social transformation, in innovation throughout the public policy cycle, and in their (re)positioning in the face of the challenges of contemporary societies. Employing an interdisciplinary approach anchored in the pragmatic systemic matrix and in the incremental proposal, the research draws on the contributions of Habermas and Luhmann to rigorously examine how communication, decision-making, and interaction among agents, administrative apparatuses, and society affect the effectiveness and evolution of public policies. From this analytical standpoint, and in view of the existing gap in the literature regarding the operational translation of the pragmatic-systemic matrix and its contribution to the legal framework governing public servants, the research problem is objectively formulated as follows: how can a pragmatic-systemic approach propose incremental improvements to the legal regime of federal public servants capable of fostering innovation within the public policy cycle? The central hypothesis holds that the pragmatic-systemic matrix, associated with incrementalism, provides a normatively viable pathway for reorganizing institutional incentives, refining evaluation mechanisms, and strengthening the participation of public servants, thereby expanding their capacity for innovation in the public policy cycle. The study examines Lindblom’s incremental refinement to advance the understanding of the legal regime applicable to public servants, while preserving constitutional guarantees—such as stability and merit-based entry—and confronting the precarization of public services through the formulation of forward-looking guidelines. It is argued that the absence of conceptual and operational clarity in this field weakens the State, making it necessary to adopt an analytical lens capable of transforming theory into concrete institutional mechanisms so as to avoid perpetuating the precarization of public services and, consequently, undermining the State’s capacity for innovation. The proposed normative directions include innovation-based bonuses, career incentives, the effective participation of public servants in policy formulation, and improvements to performance evaluation mechanisms. Additional measures encompass training initiatives oriented toward contemporary challenges, such as the integration of emerging technologies and the fight against disinformation. Methodologically, the study adopts a deductive-analytical approach, articulated with qualitative-documentary procedures and a systematic literature review, enabling the integration of theoretical frameworks, normative evidence, and institutional analyses to substantiate the feasibility of the proposed guidelines. The research thus affirms the protagonism of public agents in managing change and responding to crises, arguing that incremental improvements to the legal regime—aligned with current demands—enhance the State’s capacity to realize fundamental rights, strengthen citizenship, and consolidate democracy. In conclusion, operational guidelines are offered to strengthen public policies and support the functional development of the public workforce, fostering a culture of innovation, ethics, and efficiency within the Brazilian public sector.