Agency analysis of the Swedish National Space Agency

The Government has assigned the Swedish Agency for Public Management to conduct an agency analysis of the Swedish National Space Agency (SNSA).

The Swedish National Space Agency largely fulfils its tasks in an appropriate manner

The Swedish Agency for Public Management’s overall assessment is that SNSA largely fulfils its tasks in an appropriate manner.

Efforts to support Swedish space research and the space industry, as well as the work within the European Space Agency (ESA), are working well. In these activities, we consider that SNSA conducts collaboration in an appropriate manner.

We consider that SNSA is less effective in certain tasks. This includes, for example, work to promote the use of space data for earth observation. In this area, the Agency’s collaboration with other actors is not as strategic. Activities relating to the authorisation and control of space activities have also functioned less well, but within these areas SNSA has taken measures to improve these activities in the future.

We also note that SNSA does not conduct any systematic work to consider foreign affairs, security or defence policy in its activities.

The Swedish National Space Agency has some shortcomings in internal governance, management and control

Our analysis shows that the challenges regarding how the Agency fulfils its tasks can largely be explained by shortcomings in internal management and governance. SNSA interprets its assignment broadly and therefore carries out certain activities which we consider to be at the limit of what is included in the assignment.

The Agency makes few deliberate and strategic priorities among its activities, while resources are insufficient according to management. The operational plan does not sufficiently support the Agency in prioritising its activities. There are also shortcomings in how the Agency reports its results and how it uses performance monitoring in its activities. Nor is the organisation adapted to the current extent of its operations. We also find that the management board of SNSA has not sufficiently guided the Agency on the basis of the Government's governance and the circumstances of the Agency.

We consider that certain conditions for effective employeeship are lacking at SNSA, such as present leadership and appropriate introduction for new employees. As workloads and staff turnover are relatively high, this is particularly important. Furthermore, the Agency must continue to develop its administrative culture. However, the Agency does have most of the internal structures for a good administrative culture in place. This applies, for example, to certain internal policy documents which are known in the organisation.

The Government's governance gives the Agency room to interpret its assignment, but is somewhat unclear

The Swedish Agency for Public Management's assessment is that the Government's governance of SNSA is appropriate in that it does not micromanage operations. However, we recognise that SNSA's instruction is extensive and somewhat unclear. This makes it difficult to discern what the Government wishes the Agency to do.

We also consider that the Government's governance in space security, as well as in defence and security-related matters, is vague.

The Swedish Agency for Public Management's proposal

Based on our analysis, we have developed several proposed measures. Among other things, we propose that SNSA

• wait for formal steering from the Government before assuming new tasks or roles
• prioritise more within their activities, based on the Agency's formal assignment and financial framework
• focus the Agency’s security work primarily on internal activities
• continue to develop certain internal structures for a good administrative culture
• develop its performance reporting and monitoring
• strengthen its present leadership
• ensure that employees have knowledge of basic civil service requirements and values
• review its organisation to adapt it to the current size of the Agency.

We propose, inter alia, that the management board of the SNSA

• govern SNSA to a greater extent on the basis of the Government's governance and the Agency's circumstances, to ensure that the Agency works effectively with its assignment.

Finally, we propose, inter alia, that the Government

• refine and clarify the instruction of SNSA
• clarify its expectations of SNSA in its work on security and defence-related issues.