The book examines two elements, place and technology, that are under- researched in the public management literature. It shows how basic public services both shape and are shaped by the specifics of places and technological change by bringing together a wide range of theory and internationally comparative empirical material.
Engaging through conversations, cases, and original sources, this book presents a fresh perspective on public management. It addresses key themes and challenges in the field with a mix of humor and insight. Christopher Pollitt, moving away from conventional writing, aims to provide an accessible introduction for students, educators, and practitioners, covering both traditional and contemporary issues in public management.
In this major new contribution to a rapidly expanding field, the authors offer an integrated analysis of the wave of management reforms which have swept through so many countries in the last twenty years. The reform trajectories of ten countries are compared, and key differences of approach discussed. Unlike some previous works, this volume affords balanced coverage to the 'New Public Management' (NPM) and the 'non-NPM' or 'reluctant NPM' countries.