1,721,078 research outputs found
The emergence and resilience of New Public Management (NPM)
No full textNew Public Management (NPM) has been the most significant public policy reform in decades. Despite its widespread use, it has been a contested policy from its initial adoption. There has been a succession of replacement policies which have been proposed over its life to date. Yet NPM is still in evidence. The expression NPM was coined by Hood (1991). It referred to the mimicry of private sector practices (on management structures and styles, on ownership models and the focus on accounting practices, and quantification and performance management within private sector organisations). Writings on New Public Management (NPM) have been extremely influential, even if it can no longer be described as ‘new’. It is often described as a set of management techniques and practices, which have now achieved global significance. The attractiveness of NPM to policy makers is evident. The NPM focus on results coincides with political imperatives. NPM has the appearance of ready-made answers to policy proposals. Many management consultants have become adept at advancing the case for NPM, generally, and as a solution to specific problems. However, many academic commentators have criticised NPM implementation programmes. Despite such criticism, the adherence of policymakers to NPM has ensured its prominent role in public life. This chapter outlines four dimensions of NPM, which focus on understanding both the pervasive nature of NPM and the challenges to the prevailing logic of NPM in public policy: mature NPM, NPM in action, alternative models to NPM, and NPM’s role in contemporary society
Managing health care in the digital world:A comparative analysis
Full text linkRecently, most reforms affecting healthcare systems have focused on improving the quality of care and containing costs. This has led many scholars to advocate the adoption of Health Information systems, especially Electronic Medical Records (EMR), by highlighting their potential benefits. This study is based on a comparative analysis using a multiple method approach to examine the implementation of the same EMR system at two different hospitals. Its findings offer insights into the processes of the adoption of innovation and its implementation in a healthcare context. The need to innovate, the decision to innovate, the implementation process and consequently the results produced are quite distinctive at each study site. This comparative case study reveals that what appears to be the same can be quite different: this can be due to several conditions at the organization, the organization’s characteristics, and the process of implementation adopted. We need to understand these elements in order to be able to plan and manage such programs in the future
Enterprise-Wide Risk Management and Organizational Fit: A Comparative Study
Full text linkPurpose– The purpose of this paper is to analyse enterprise risk management (ERM), its organizational translation and fit, investigating in particular its impact on a major control process: budgeting.Design/methodology/approach– The research was carried out with a multiple case study approach including three companies in the UK. This approach was chosen to gain a deeper understanding of the nature of ERM within each of the organizations and the factors shaping its achievements.Findings– Three main issues emerged. The first is related specifically to ERM implementations and its variety in practice. Second, ERM champions emerged as central in shaping the managerial usefulness of ERM. Third, the cases showed diversity of practice in term of integration with budgeting which range from a voluntary full integration to an voluntary separation.Practical implications– The cases analysed highlighted that the integration between risk and other control processes is a challenge but also a strategic choice. Although conceding that ERM implementation is not linear, companies should reflect upon the type of relations they would like to have between different processes of control.Originality/value– The results of the paper explored ERM organizational fit, evidencing variety in practice and theoretically discussing how this diversity is linked to organizational and technical issues.<br/
Performance Management in the Public Sector: The Ultimate Challenge
No full textPerformance Management is the challenge confronting public service managers. However, the enduring research focus on performance measurement in public services, without resolution, does not offer neat solutions to performance management in public services. This drawback of measurement difficulties has not abated interest in performance management. But there are significant adverse outcomes associated with the clumsy use of performance management systems in public services, particularly negative effects on staff morale. The lack of ready-made answers to performance management makes this task complex and demanding for public service managers. This paper identifies critical dimensions of effectiveness in performance management systems
Introduction
No full textIn this chapter management of public services is introduced as a topic. The tasks and general challenges for management are described. Also, the specific setting for public services is elaborated on and discussed. In this uncertain environment management needs to be flexible and responsive to new ideas and practices to fulfil its purpose. The ability to adapt quickly to unpredictable changes in circumstances is crucial. This is not a simple question of selecting the appropriate means to achieve a given end. We argue that this mission requires steering away from recipe management and instead emphasizing and encouraging reflective managers with a critical mindset. The chapter ends with a plan for the rest of the book
Concluding comments : The reflective manager in action
No full textThis conclusion presents some closing thoughts on the concepts covered in the preceding chapters of this book. The book argues that a vision can make explicit values and priorities in an organization. It elaborates on the use of strategic cost management and how it can be used, not solely but in connection with other more qualitative data. The book discusses performance management. It elaborates on challenges related to the implementation of information and communications technology (ICT) solutions. The book argues that uncritically introducing branding concepts from the private sector into public services. It focuses on Lean Management questions whether a tool devised by and for a major vehicle manufacturer is also applicable to public services. The book also focuses on resilience explains how resilient management may be constituted and understood by discussing resilience and sensemaking. It describes the risks of risk management
Modernizing public services: Subtle interplays of politics and management
Full text linkPurpose - This paper aims to examine the trajectory of public management reforms in Italy. This experience indicates the complexity of managerialism in countries with a legalistic system and where public administration cultures have been, and continue to be, embedded in politics. Design/methodology/approach - The analysis of managerial reforms in Italy was carried out with a documentary analysis. In addition to official reports and acts of parliament, the analysis was based on monitoring the government websites and innovative channels (e.g. Facebook) which communicated the progress of the later reforms. Findings - The paper shows how modernization of public services has been a continuous priority in the agenda of the Italian Government across four phases: An early attempt in the late 1970s; a lively, phase for Italian managerial reforms in the 1990s; a later advocacy in the 2000s of a specific new public management (NPM) element - performance management; an after-crises reform aimed at reducing public expenditure. Originality/value - The paper takes a historical and long-Term perspective to analyse the success and failure of NPM reforms implementation in Italy. Differently from previous studies, this papers analyses NPMreforms in a longitudinal perspective, to show how the legalistic culture of Italy continues to affect the implementation of NPM reforms
Understanding key factors affecting electronic medical record implementation:a sociotechnical approach
Full text linkBackgroundRecent health care policies have supported the adoption of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) but examples of failed ICT projects in this sector have highlighted the need for a greater understanding of the processes used to implement such innovations in complex organizations. This study examined the interaction of sociological and technological factors in the implementation of an Electronic Medical Record (EMR) system by a major national hospital. It aimed to obtain insights for managers planning such projects in the future and to examine the usefulness of Actor Network Theory (ANT) as a research tool in this context.MethodsCase study using documentary analysis, interviews and observations. Qualitative thematic analysis drawing on ANT.ResultsQualitative analyses revealed a complex network of interactions between organizational stakeholders and technology that helped to shape the system and influence its acceptance and adoption. The EMR clearly emerged as a central ‘actor’ within this network. The results illustrate how important it is to plan innovative and complex information systems with reference to (i) the expressed needs and involvement of different actors, starting from the initial introductory phase; (ii) promoting commitment to the system and adopting a participative approach; (iii) defining and resourcing new roles within the organization capable of supporting and sustaining the change and (iv) assessing system impacts in order to mobilize the network around a common goal.ConclusionsThe paper highlights the organizational, cultural, technological, and financial considerations that should be taken into account when planning strategies for the implementation of EMR systems in hospital settings. It also demonstrates how ANT may be usefully deployed in evaluating such projects
- …
