Redesigning customs station activities in special economic zone: the practice of organizational modelling

The paper analyses practical potential of organizational modelling method for optimizing administration of customs in the new economic conditions. In Russian Federation, special economic zones are the most active form of establishment of public-private partnership. The administration of such zones is directly linked to efficiency of regional governance. Administrating customs activities shall be incorporated into administration of a special economic zone as its structural element. The authors aimed to develop and implement a project of redesigning activities of a customs station in the situation of institutional dynamics within judicial and economic spheres. The practice of organizational modelling in customs administration has not been sufficiently studied. The latest publications in administration and management indicate that it is possible to apply the method for redesigning activity in a dynamic environment. Restructuring is only the first stage of the process of developing a new organizational ‘architecture’ of transitional model. Functional analysis and singling out the new units within business processes allowed to form new links within the customs station. Viewing the management of customs activities as a part of the system of a special economic zone administrating allowed the authors to construct a new “architecture” of communications with all other administration entities. Implementation of the project for optimizing customs activity administration allowed to raise the efficiency of administration of a special economic zone as a whole, which translated into a significant economic effect.