Product Description

Taking a distinctive approach, emphasizing management and organizational learning as keys to organizational success, this introductory text is solidly practical and is supported by strong pedagogical features.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #342851 in Books
• Published on: 2001-11-22
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 576 pages

From the Back Cover
The work of a manager in a service organization is not the same as the work of a manager in an organization which manufactures goods. Managing Public Services - Implementing Changes is for students and managers who intend to work in a service organization, whether it is owned publicly or privately. The book concentrates on how managers can change things for the better. It explains 'why' as well as 'how'.
Managing people, managing finance, managing information and managing operations are considered separately, then integrated through chapters on managing change, managing projects, managing learning and managing personal development.
The emphasis is on the thinking and learning skills managers need to implement changes. Key skills are developed through thinking and learning activities at the end of each chapter. Students develop skills that enable them to transfer their learning from one situation to another and to adapt the way that they apply their learning as circumstances change. Case-studies and interviews with public service managers working in Europe, Asia, Australia and the USA are incorporated.
The book begins by predicting the changes that will affect public services over the next twenty years, and ends with a critique of the way management values are undermining their ethics, efficiency and effectiveness. The last chapter argues that unless there is a more thoughtful approach to management education, additional resources will not lead to improved management practice.
The books answers the question: 'how can public services be improved without wasteful injections of public money?'

Customer Reviews

A breathe of fresh air.
I had the pleasure of being taught on this subject by Terry Horne a year ago. Like his teaching methods, this text uses a refreshing mix of theoretical models and frameworks together with real-world experience providing a USEFUL learning experience.

For students, this book will provide real answers which are often so hard to find. The theories brought forward are original and build on existing theories most students will be familiar with. The way in which this is done is logical and well-structured. The information is rich in both quality and quantity and follows the reader's train of thought well.

The title of this book hints that the subject matter is concentrated on a limited area; however this is not the case. Any student buying this text will find themselves referring to it for many other modules / subjects. This broad application offers great value for money. It should be noted that to fully understand areas such as Thinking Skills supplementary texts may be needed.

As well as students this book will also prove useful for managers. Rather than reams of text debating the same point whilst providing more questions than answers, this book can be used as a valuable tool of reference. The authors have clearly given weight to transferring knowledge rather than using pompous jargon and overly-complex language that serves only as a deterrent.

I'll be keeping this on my shelf.

Recommended text for any public service lecturer/student
This is a fantastic and well structured book which is a must for any student studying a public service cause at any level but particulary at university. It is well written and set out in such a way that makes it very easy to read.

A must buy ladies and gentlemen!