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This study looks at how civil servants of the European Commission (EC) relate to recent management modernization (the Kinnock Reform). Competing theoretical approaches (utility maximization, socialization, ideology) are used to develop empirical hypotheses about the relationship between officials and whether they accept or oppose the reforms. The hypotheses are tested on recent survey data by applying a simple regression model. There is evidence that, unless they fear negative effects on their career, EC officials accept the administrative reform. With respect to recent organizational change, the EC appears to have entered into an age of normalization in internal administrative modernization.