Understanding and Managing Public Organizations

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Discover the latest insights in organization theory from a comprehensive volume that serves as an authoritative reference for scholars, master's, and doctoral students in public management and public affairs programs. The 6th Edition presents the latest research and insights from organization and management theory, focusing on their application to public organizations and the individuals within them. This edition expands on previous coverage of organizational goals, performance, effectiveness, strategy, decision-making, structure, design, change, operating environments, motivation, leadership, and teamwork. Authors Hal Rainey, Sergio Fernandez, and Deanna Malatesta provide new insights into the unique characteristics of public and nonprofit organizations, including "publicness" and legal contexts. Key topics include performance management, representative bureaucracy, workforce diversity, employee engagement, and recent developments in leadership theories. The book also addresses design and process issues like administrative burdens and organizational routines, alongside theoretical perspectives such as behavioral decision-making and resource dependence theory. This edition updates the Instructor's Guide with new PowerPoint slides, cases, exercises, and discussion questions, all designed to meet the learning outcomes required by NASPAA accreditation.