Understanding how public policy is made and managed is a key component in studying the disciplines of public management and administration. Such are the complexities associated with this topic, a deeper understanding is vital to ensure that practising public managers excel in their roles.

This textbook synthesizes the key theories, providing a contemporary understanding of public policy and how it relates to private and other sectors. It integrates this with the management and implementation of public policy, including outlines of organizations, practices and instruments used.

Pedagogical features include chapter synopses, learning objectives, boxed international cases and vignettes and further reading suggestions. This useful, concise textbook will be required reading for public management students and all those interested in public policy.

This book explores the gendered nature of leadership and management. The contributors analyse issues such as management development and therapeutic cultures, expectations placed on women in the workplace, managing maternity and the gendered nature of workplace mistakes. The position of women in various sectors and areas of the politico-economic landscape is also considered. Topics discussed include: women in the boardroom; women in the small to medium size enterprise sector; support for female entrepreneurs; gender in the public sector; and, gender and the management of the European Commission. The book concludes by stating the business case for greater female representation in leadership and management, outlining some of the nuances in changing gender identities, and positioning the content within current macro political developments. As such, it will strongly appeal to academics and researchers in gender studies, policy studies, social science, business and management. Practitioners and consultants in the equal opportunities field will also find much to interest them in this book.

Understanding how public policy is made and managed is a key component in studying the disciplines of public management and administration. Such are the complexities associated with this topic, a deeper understanding is vital to ensure that practising public managers excel in their roles.

This textbook synthesizes the key theories, providing a contemporary understanding of public policy and how it relates to private and other sectors. It integrates this with the management and implementation of public policy, including outlines of organizations, practices and instruments used.

Pedagogical features include chapter synopses, learning objectives, boxed international cases and vignettes and further reading suggestions. This useful, concise textbook will be required reading for public management students and all those interested in public policy.