Strategic Management in the Public Sector

`The potential of strategic management to improve public services and governance has been the holy grail of 21st century public sector reform. In this book, Paul Joyce one of our most experienced commentators and perceptive thinkers provides a lucid, accessible and erudite guide to the latest theory and practice. A brilliant introduction for both students and practitioners' - Pete Murphy, Director, International Centre for Public Services Management, Nottingham Business School, UK `Paul Joyce has written a very useful introduction to public-sector strategic management. I particularly value the comparative approach, detailed review of important contributions to the literature, many examples, useful figures, and intriguing discussion of the possibilities for a more 'strategic state.'' - John M. Bryson, McKnight Presidential Professor of Planning and Public Affairs, University of Minnesota, USA 'This is an excellent addition to the strategy literature; filling a theory/practice gap in strategic knowledge and understanding at the heart of governments in various state settings. It effectively updates and augments existing strategy models with original 'insider' case materials. This book will appeal to a wide academic, policy and practitioner readership' - Professor Joyce Liddle, Co-Director, CERGAM, Institut de Public Management and Territoriale Gouvernance, Aix-Marseille Universite, France `This book provides a clear and illuminating introduction and discussion of the theory and practice of strategic management in the public sector. It contains a series of examples that are thoughtfully explored and placed within their overall political and administrative context.' - Andrew Massey, Professor of Political Studies, University of Exeter, UK `Theories and practices on strategic management in the public sector have to be connected and arguably reconciled. This is exactly what this book aims to do. Practitioners will find several case studies and models of practical guidance for strategic management in their organizations; whilst researchers will be invited to revisit the concept of the strategic state which is at the interface between politics, policy making and public management' - Anne Drumaux, Professor and Academic Director at Solvay Brussels School in Economics and Management, Universite Libre de Bruxelles, Belgium `Professor Joyce gives a good overview of the current challenges of strategic management in the public sector. In this book theory, methods and practice have been successfully combined as an up-to-date presentation which is summarized with the new idea of the strategic state.' - Ismo Lumijarvi, Professor, School of Management, University of Tampere, Finland `This is a unique and valuable book, whichã covers and tackles various aspects of strategic management and provides interesting cases and evidence from so many different countries. It is the perfect balance between theory and practice. That's what is so important for our community interested in strategic management - academics, students and practitioners.' - Assoc. Prof. Jurgita Siugzdiniene, dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, Arts and Humanities at Kaunas University of Technology, Lithuania.