ABSTRACT

In turbulent times, strategic leadership of public services becomes ever more important. Strategic leaders are steering their organizations into a new relationship with the public, often in conditions of intensified competition between public services providers and thus the quality of leadership they offer is critical.

Providing insights into useful approaches and techniques for strategic leaders, Strategic Leadership in the Public Services covers topics such as the nature of leaders and how leaders lead. It probes strategic thinking and thoroughly explores strategic processes of implementation, monitoring and evaluation. It provides advice on being strategic and encourages the reader to appreciate the challenges of strategic leadership in practice. In the end, the book argues that leadership and strategy have become hegemonic ideas for reinventing the state.

Replete with real world practical case studies and examples, drawn from a range of countries, the book provides students with a truly international outlook on the subject and offers a clear understanding of the emerging significance of leadership, strategic management, and public services reform. Essential reading for postgraduate students taking leadership and management courses for the public services, the book will also be a useful resource for individuals currently pursuing executive management careers in the public services, or hope to do so in the future.

chapter 1|28 pages

Leaders in the public services

chapter 2|24 pages

The leadership process

chapter 3|23 pages

Leaders and change situations

chapter 4|25 pages

The political context

chapter 5|30 pages

Linear strategic thinking

chapter 6|20 pages

Strategic issue management

chapter 7|22 pages

Strategic planning and management

chapter 8|19 pages

Implementation

chapter 9|24 pages

Monitoring

chapter 10|13 pages

Evaluating strategic plans

chapter 11|27 pages

Issues and Challenges in Practice

chapter 12|28 pages

Reform, Leadership, and Strategy

chapter 13|6 pages

Reflections on strategic leadership