Download or read book Public Service Improvement written by Rachel E. Ashworth and published by OUP Oxford. This book was released on 2010-04-29 with total page 243 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The performance of the public services, from education and policing to health and recycling, is a matter of concern in many countries. Issues of public service efficiency, cost, and effectiveness have moved to the forefront of political debate. This book applies the latest thinking from Management and Organization Studies to the performance of public organizations in order to evaluate the merits of different mechanisms for driving improvement in the public sector. Research in Management and Organization Studies on the private sector has identified a number of 'drivers' of improved performance, including innovation, organizational culture, leadership, and strategic planning. Many of these 'private sector' characteristics have emerged within public sector organisations in recent years. However, public managers face additional pressures, whether from regulators, constrained resources, or political interference. This book takes each of these drivers in turn and assesses whether they lead to improvement in public services. Written for students and researchers of Public Management, this book will also be of interest to public managers and consultants.