This is an accessible introduction to the theory and practice of strategic management in the public sector.

Strategic Management in Public Services Organizations takes a comparative and international view on the appropriate use of strategic management models that are affecting the way public services organizations are managed. In an era of New and post New Public Management reforms, public managers at all levels are expected to respond to these new approaches, which profoundly affect their work practices, skills, and knowledge bases. Choosing a promising strategic management model and implementing it in a way that works for the organization or inter-organizational network in question also depends on an understanding of local politico-administrative and cultural contexts: this book helps the readers identify how to successfully tailor strategic management approaches to their specific circumstances and needs. This second edition builds upon the successes of the well-received first edition. Thoroughly updated to help public managers meet the challenges of a new decade, it has a refreshed collection of mini-cases and now includes chapter summaries. It also includes a new chapter on collaborative strategy and co-creation, in response to the growth of interest in more open forms of public policymaking. This is an advanced textbook aimed at the postgraduate level, particularly students on MPAs and MBAs with a public sector option or MScs in public policy and public management.

In turbulent times, strategic leadership of public services becomes ever more important. Strategic leaders are steering their organizations into a new relationship with the public, often in conditions of intensified competition between public services providers and thus the quality of leadership they offer is critical. Providing insights into useful approaches and techniques for strategic leaders, Strategic Leadership in the Public Services covers topics such as the nature of leaders and how leaders lead. It probes strategic thinking and thoroughly explores strategic processes of implementation, monitoring and evaluation. It provides advice on being strategic and encourages the reader to appreciate the challenges of strategic leadership in practice. In the end, the book argues that leadership and strategy have become hegemonic ideas for reinventing the state. Replete with real world practical case studies and examples, drawn from a range of countries, the book provides students with a truly international outlook on the subject and offers a clear understanding of the emerging significance of leadership, strategic management, and public services reform. Essential reading for postgraduate students taking leadership and management courses for the public services, the book will also be a useful resource for individuals currently pursuing executive management careers in the public services, or hope to do so in the future.

Strategic management is widely seen as essential to the public services, leading to better performance and better outcomes for the public. In fact, the private sector idea of strategic management has become so powerful in the public sector that politicians and policy makers have begun to talk about the importance of the modern state being strategic – and we may be witnessing the emergence of the Strategic State. Strategic Management for the Public Sector draws on experience and research from a range of countries and provides a theoretical understanding of strategic management that is grounded in the public sector. Drawing on the latest theory and research this text provides a fresh look at foresight, analysis, strategic choice, implementation and evaluation. This book also offers original and detailed case studies based on up to date evidence from different public sector settings, helping the reader to build on their understanding of theories and concepts presented earlier in the book. Strategic Management for the Public Sector has been written specially for managers and students taking postgraduate courses such as MBAs and MPAs. It will also appeal to individual managers and civil servants in the public sector looking for an accessible book to read as part of their own independent personal development.

In good times and bad, in the different situations of renewal, crisis, and chronic resource constraints, the strategic leadership of public services is crucial. Good leaders are essential in helping the public sector to adapt and solve ‘wicked’ problems, and they are also integral to the reform and modernization of public governance. This new edition of Strategic Leadership in the Public Sector continues to provide insights into useful approaches and techniques for strategic leaders, looking at: what is expected of leaders competency frameworks leadership theories techniques and processes of strategic leadership leading strategic change the strategic state emerging leadership challenges. Replete with real-world case studies and examples, and including new material from the USA, Canada, Australia, Europe and India, plus an appendix with practical worksheets, the book gives students a truly international outlook on the subject and offers a clear understanding of the significance of leadership, strategic management and public services reform. This textbook represents essential reading for postgraduate students on public management degrees and aspiring or current public managers.

First published as a special issue of Policy & Politics journal, this book lays out important stepping-stones for the development of new research into the ongoing transition to co-creation as a mode of governance.

Strategic management makes a difference to the performance of public organizations. This book demonstrates that the most appropriate response is 'it all depends': on which aspects of strategy content and processes are pursued together, and how these are combined with organizational structure and the technical and institutional environment

This report summarises the need for and potential applications of selected user-friendly, state-of-theart, electronic policy support tools to promote more successful strategic policy management in the public sector.

Innovation is a core issue for public services and is a key element of public services reform – particularly in this age of austerity where policymakers urge the need to 'innovate to do more with less'. This comprehensive and accessible Handbook explores the potential for creating efficient and effective public services. Leading researchers from across the globe review the state of the art in research on innovation in public services, providing an overview of key issues from a multi-disciplinary perspective. Topics explored include: context for innovation in public services and public service reform; managerial change challenges; ICT and e-government; and collaboration and networks. The theory is underpinned by seven wide-ranging case studies of innovation in practice. Taking the field forward and providing a baseline for future research, this highly unique and original Handbook will prove essential reading for academics, researchers, students, policymakers and practitioners across the fields of innovation, public policy, social policy and public management.

Within the public sector, strategies are not designed to influence markets, but instead to guide operations within a complex environment of multilateral power, influence, bargaining, and voting. In this book, authors David McNabb and Chung-Shingh Lee examine five frameworks public sector organization managers have followed when designing public sector strategies. Its purpose is to serve as a guide for managers and administrators of large and small public organizations and agencies. This book is the product of a combined more than sixty years of researching, teaching and leading organizational seminars on the theory and practice of management applications in industrial, commercial, nonprofit and public sector organizations. The book consists of four parts: Strategic Management and Strategy Fundamentals; Frameworks for Designing Strategies; Examples of Public Sector Strategies; and Implementing Strategic Management. Throughout, the focus is on the widespread value of strategic management and adopting the strategy appropriate for the organization. Including chapters on game theory, competitive forces, resources-based view, dynamic capabilities, and network governance, the authors demonstrate ways that real managers of public sector and civil society organizations have put strategic management to work in their organizations. This book will be of interest to both practicing and aspiring public servants.