Change Management in Greek Local Government: A Systematic Literature Review

Abstract

This PRISMA-guided systematic literature review synthesizes research on change management in Greek Local Government Organizations published between 2005 and 2025. Searches across four academic sources yielded 159 records, of which 48 met the inclusion criteria. The reviewed studies were classified into four thematic strands: crises, administrative reforms and resilience; environmental challenges and climate adaptation; e-government and accounting information systems; and urban planning and territorial governance. The findings indicate growing scholarly attention to municipal change but reveal a persistent focus on external drivers, including economic crises, digitalization, climate change, and institutional reforms, while providing limited insight into the organizational processes and capabilities through which change is managed within municipalities. By offering the first systematic synthesis of this literature, the review contributes to public administration and local governance scholarship and highlights the need for future research on organizational capabilities, leadership, learning mechanisms, and strategic change management under conditions of continuous and overlapping transitions.