Political Management

Lees-Marshment's book will surely become the seminal text in what is a burgeoning literature on political management. She rightly understands that because political managers make decisions and take actions within the public arena, the profession requires as deep of an understanding of partisan politics and coalitional diplomacy as it does of good business management principles. She also correctly distinguishes political management from public administration in that she acknowledges that government policy-making and administration are not without politics of their own. Her '4Ds' model of deliberating, designing, doing, and dancing aptly describes the challenges involved with successfully delivering on campaign promises and policy platforms. Through her interviews and her primary documents research, she provides substantial empirical evidence that supports her argument of the need for greater professionalization of the political management field. A truly excellent work - Lees-Marshment's book should be read by anyone who is frustrated that governments never seem to be able to get things done. - Associate Professor Lara M. Brown, Director, Graduate School of Political Management, George Washington University, USA Political advisors are the unseen navigators of the political world. Their work is essential to keeping the ship of government running and on course - and ensuring their ministers don't run aground. Yet very little has been documented about the key management role that advisors play. So this research is overdue, and I warmly welcome it. - Mike Munro, Former Chief of Staff to New Zealand prime Minister Jacinda Ardern In this innovative book Jennifer Lees-Marshment applies the tools of management to the work of politics. Through extensive research and real-life examples she shows how political practitioners of all kinds can improve their capabilities, essential if they are to meet the public policy challenges we face. - Professor Helen Sullivan, Director, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University In this wide-ranging and important study, Jennifer Lees-Marshment powerfully contends that in the hyper-complex twenty-first century there is no effective political leadership in the absence of skillful political management. Indeed, the tools to manage government presented here look set to become a key resource for presidents and prime ministers worldwide. Essential reading for scholars and political practitioners alike. - Professor Ludger Helms, University of Innsbruck, And co-editor of the Oxford Handbook of Political Executives Politics is a complex and high stakes undertaking, yet electoral candidates, elected officials and supporting staffers are often inexperienced and unprepared for crucial aspects of the job. This book provides a valuable introduction to key aspects of political management which will benefit practitioners, students and researchers alike. - Paul Wilson, formerly Director of Policy to the Rt. Hon. Stephen Harper, Prime Minister of Canada, currently Associate Professor, Clayton H. Riddell Graduate Program in Political Management, Carleton University, Ottawa Lees-Marshment's book will surely become the seminal text in what is a burgeoning literature on political management. She rightly understands that because political managers make decisions and take actions within the public arena, the profession requires as deep of an understanding of partisan politics and coalitional diplomacy as it does of good business management principles. She also correctly distinguishes political management from public administration in that she acknowledges that government policy-making and administration are not without politics of their own. Her '4Ds' model of deliberating, designing, doing, and dancing aptly describes the challenges involved with successfully delivering on campaign promises and policy platforms. Through her interviews and her primary documents research, she provides substantial empirical evidence that supports her argument of the need for greater professionalization of the political management field. A truly excellent work - Lees-Marshment's book should be read by anyone who is frustrated that governments never seem to be able to get things done. - Associate Professor Lara M. Brown, Director, Graduate School of Political Management, George Washington University, USA Political advisors are the unseen navigators of the political world. Their work is essential to keeping the ship of government running and on course - and ensuring their ministers don't run aground. Yet very little has been documented about the key management role that advisors play. So this research is overdue, and I warmly welcome it. - Mike Munro, Former Chief of Staff to New Zealand prime Minister Jacinda Ardern In this innovative book Jennifer Lees-Marshment applies the tools of management to the work of politics. Through extensive research and real-life examples she shows how political practitioners of all kinds can improve their capabilities, essential if they are to meet the public policy challenges we face. - Professor Helen Sullivan, Director, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University In this wide-ranging and important study, Jennifer Lees-Marshment powerfully contends that in the hyper-complex twenty-first century there is no effective political leadership in the absence of skillful political management. Indeed, the tools to manage government presented here look set to become a key resource for presidents and prime ministers worldwide. Essential reading for scholars and political practitioners alike. - Professor Ludger Helms, University of Innsbruck, Austria, and co-editor of the Oxford Handbook of Political Executives Politics is a complex and high stakes undertaking, yet electoral candidates, elected officials and supporting staffers are often inexperienced and unprepared for crucial aspects of the job. This book provides a valuable introduction to key aspects of political management which will benefit practitioners, students and researchers alike. - Paul Wilson, formerly Director of Policy to the Rt. Hon. Stephen Harper, Prime Minister of Canada, currently Associate Professor, Clayton H. Riddell Graduate Program in Political Management, Carleton University, Ottawa, Canada