'This is an excellent 'do-it-yourself' introductory study to public sector management, covering a wide range of issues, including recent public service reforms. I recommend it to anyone interested in the practice and study of public sector management.' - Tony Ayers, National President, Institute of Public Administration AustraliaThe traditional view of public sector management is under challenge. The shifting boundaries of the public-private sector are transforming the nature of the public sector in the 21st century and placing increasing demands on managers. This user-friendly handbook examines the changes that have taken place over the last twenty years and addresses the practical issues faced by public servants today. It makes abundant use of exhibits, case studies and real world examples to illustrate key concepts in public sector management. By including many 'points for reference', the authors challenge readers to apply both theory and practice to those public services situations with which they are familiar.Australian Handbook of Public Sector Management is a unique blend of academic and practical approaches to current management practices in the public sector. It has been designed to assist students and those new to the public sector to develop the knowledge and skills they require to provide high quality public services.

'This is an excellent 'do-it-yourself' introductory study to public sector management, covering a wide range of issues, including recent public service reforms. I recommend it to anyone interested in the practice and study of public sector management.' - Tony Ayers, National President, Institute of Public Administration Australia The traditional view of public sector management is under challenge. The shifting boundaries of the public-private sector are transforming the nature of the public sector in the 21st century and placing increasing demands on managers. This user-friendly handbook examines the changes that have taken place over the last twenty years and addresses the practical issues faced by public servants today. It makes abundant use of exhibits, case studies and real world examples to illustrate key concepts in public sector management. By including many 'points for reference', the authors challenge readers to apply both theory and practice to those public services situations with which they are familiar. Australian Handbook of Public Sector Management is a unique blend of academic and practical approaches to current management practices in the public sector. It has been designed to assist students and those new to the public sector to develop the knowledge and skills they require to provide high quality public services.

In recent years, concerns over the effectiveness of public administration have encouraged the widespread measurement and management of 'performance'. But is performance management an appropriate model for public sector organizations, and has it proved successful? Moreover, how do the principles of performance management affect how public bodies operate, and the way they relate to the wider community? In this important text, the viability of performance management in public sector organizations is systematically assessed across a number of international case studies. The book provides a framework through which models of performance management can be understood in terms of both their impact within a public sector organization, and the effects that have been seen in countries with contrasting administrational contexts. Managing Performance - International Comparisons critically examines the effects of performance management models in the public sector, and assesses their future evolution. It is an important book for all students and researchers with an interest in management, public administration and public policy.

In recent years, concerns over the effectiveness of public administration have encouraged the widespread measurement and management of 'performance'. But is performance management an appropriate model for public sector organizations, and has it proved successful? Moreover, how do the principles of performance management affect how public bodies operate, and the way they relate to the wider community?

In this important text, the viability of performance management in public sector organizations is systematically assessed across a number of international case studies. The book provides a framework through which models of performance management can be understood in terms of both their impact within a public sector organization, and the effects that have been seen in countries with contrasting administrational contexts.

Managing Performance - International Comparisons critically examines the effects of performance management models in the public sector, and assesses their future evolution. It is an important book for all students and researchers with an interest in management, public administration and public policy.

In today's politically and economically complex and interdependent world, scholars, professional administrators, and laypersons alike increasingly recognize the importance of bureaucracies. In this timely volume, contributors with demonstrated expertise in a range of geographical areas advance our understanding of public administration worldwide through extensive research and incisive analysis. Covering the public sector both in more- and less-developed nations, this book sheds new light on the means by which the 'fourth branch of government' can be made both effective and well-suited to the local culture. This collection is a valuable resource for scholars of public administration and political science as well as for professional administrators in the United States and abroad.

In turbulent environments and unstable political contexts, policy advisory systems have become more volatile. The policy advisory system in Anglophone countries is composed of different types of advisers who have input into government decision making. Government choices about who advises them varies widely as they demand contestability, greater partisan input and more external consultation. The professional advice of the public service may be disregarded. The consequences for public policy are immense depending on whether a plurality of advice works effectively or is derailed by narrow and partisan agendas that lack an evidence base and implementation plans. The book seeks to addresses these issues within a comparative country analysis of how policy advisory systems are constituted and how they operate in the age of instability in governance and major challenges with how the complexity policy issue can be handled.

In the 21st century governments are increasingly focusing on designing ways and means of connecting across boundaries to achieve goals. Whether issues are complex and challenging climate change, international terrorism, intergenerational poverty or more straightforward - provision of a single point of entry to government or delivering integrated public services - practitioners and scholars increasingly advocate the use of approaches which require connections across various boundaries, be they organizational, jurisdictional or sectorial.

Governments around the world continue to experiment with various approaches but still confront barriers, leading to a general view that there is considerable promise in cross boundary working, but that this is often unfulfilled. This book explores a variety of topics in order to create a rich survey of the international experience of cross-boundary working. The book asks fundamental questions such as:

• What do we mean by the notion of crossing boundaries?
• Why has this emerged?
• What does cross boundary working involve?
• What are the critical enablers and barriers?

By scrutinizing these questions, the contributing authors examine: the promise; the barriers; the enablers; the enduring tensions; and the potential solutions to cross-boundary working. As such, this will be an essential read for all those involved with public administration, management and policy.

Tackling the key topics of reform and modernization, this important new book systematically examines performance in public management systems. The authors present this seminal subject in an informative and accessible manner, tackling some of the most important themes.

Performance Management in the Public Sector takes as its point of departure a broad definition of performance to redefine major and basic mechanisms in public administration, both theoretically and in practice. The book:

• situates performance in some of the current public management debates;
• discusses the many definitions of 'performance' and how it has become one of the contested agendas of public management;
• examines measurement, incorporation and use of performance information; and
• explores the challenges and future directions of performance management.

A must-read for any student or practitioner of public management, this core text will prove invaluable to anyone wanting to improve their understanding of performance management in the public sector.

In today's politically and economically complex and interdependent world, scholars, professional administrators, and laypersons alike increasingly recognize the importance of bureaucracies. In this timely volume, contributors with demonstrated expertise in a range of geographical areas advance our understanding of public administration worldwide through extensive research and incisive analysis. Covering the public sector both in more- and less-developed nations, this book sheds new light on the means by which the 'fourth branch of government' can be made both effective and well-suited to the local culture. This collection is a valuable resource for scholars of public administration and political science as well as for professional administrators in the United States and abroad.