This study attempts to explain the civil service reform in the delivery of public servicesrnwhich is implemented in Adama city administration. It aims at assessing whether thernreform achieved the intended objectives about efficiency and effectives in the delivery ofrnservices, to render better quality services and be accountable for its failure, to producerncommitted citizens, and to bring attitudinal change towards public service delivery. Tornthis end, the study starts by explaining the overall move for reform globally and thenrnnarrows its scope. It also deals with assessing the factors that led to the achievement orrnfailure of the process in Adama city administration.rnThe study presents data collected from the field using a qualitative and quantitativernapproach. The instruments used to gather the data are questionnaires, interviews,rnobservation and documents. However, the data collected draws a complex picture. Itrnindicates that some reform measures are successful while others unsuccessful. Forrninstance, the number of clients served has increased to some extent, time of queuing forrnservices is reduced or services rendered per hour has increased and decentralizedrndelivery of services at Kebele level. On the other hand, capacity building and behavioralrnchange towards serving clients in fair manner are not observed.rnThe study reveals factors that impeded the achievement of the reform process like limitedrnresources, poor communication of the reform objective, small amount of remuneration,rnand lack of local ownership of reform. As a general assessment, the reform has achievedrnits objectives to some extent in the delivery of services and the study concludes withrnsuggestions of what the future reformers should strive to do for successful reforms