Description
Book SynopsisHowever, Dunleavy and Carrera show for the first time how complex are the factors affecting productivity growth in government organizations – especially management practices, use of IT, organizational culture, strategic mis-decisions and political and policy churn.
Trade ReviewDunleavy and Carrera have performed a difficult, burdensome, original, practical and innovative service to the public sector practitioners and academic observers of public administration and public sector management. This is a book that simply had to be written, but it took a colossal amount of time, effort and experience to do so, and to do it so well. --LSE Review of Books
This is an innovative book that aims to address lacunae in both the public administration and management literature. It is an informed disquisition on how to measure and thence to increase productivity in the delivery of public services. . . . The book is both an original research-based treatise and a practical guide to action. In this reader's eyes it is required reading for both academics and practitioners. . . . Dunleavy and Carrera have performed a difficult, burdensome, original, practical and innovative service to the public sector practitioners and academic observers of public administration and public sector management. This is a book that simply had to be written, but it took a colossal amount of time, effort and experience to do so, and to do it so well. --LSE review of books
This is an important book, one that should be read by academics and practitioners alike. . . The authors address what is a central issue both for academic public administration and for the ''real thing''. How can the productivity of governments be improved? Given the large sizes of public sectors throughout the OECD [this question] has become an absolutely vital one. The field of public administration and public policy needs more work like this - academically thorough, yet hard-hitting, policy-relevant and willing to come forward with broad proposals for improving how governments run their (our) affairs. --Christopher Pollitt, International Review of Administrative Sciences
Table of ContentsContents: Preface 1. Introduction: Why has Government Productivity been so Neglected in Economics and Public Management? Part I: Nationally Provided Government Services 2. Studying National Agencies’ Productivity 3. Rapid Productivity Growth – Customs Regulation 4. Growing Productivity Gradually – Tax Services 5. How Productivity can Remain Unchanged Despite Major Investments – Social Security 6. Broadening the Picture – Two National Regulatory Agencies Part II: Analysing Decentralized Government Services 7. Methods and Quality Issues in Analysing Complex and Localized Services 8. Hospital Productivity in England’s National Health Service Part III: Sustainable Increases in Productivity 9. Embracing Digital Change and Enhancing Organizational Learning 10. Pushing through to Productivity Advances References Index
