Not-So-New Public Management and the Denial of Geography: Ontario Health-Care Reform in the 1990s

1998 ◽  
Vol 16 (5) ◽  
pp. 559-572 ◽  
Author(s):  
N T Hanlon ◽  
M W Rosenberg
Keyword(s):  
Public Sector ◽  
Social Services ◽  
Public Management ◽  
New Public Management ◽  
Cost Savings ◽  
Market Mechanisms ◽  
Health And Social Services ◽  
New Public ◽  
Northwestern Region ◽  
Publicly Supported

New public management (NPM) has become the mantra for public sector restructuring in OECD nations. We critically examine NPM in the context of recent public sector restructuring initiatives in the province of Ontario, Canada. Two NPM-inspired reform mechanisms employed by the Ontario government—the benchmarking of hospital-utilization indicators and the offloading of a greater share of patient-care responsibilities to the private sector—are examined as they impact on the economically disadvantaged city of Thunder Bay in the province's remote Northwestern region. We argue that the health reforms pursued by the Ontario government are focused on a one-dimensional notion of efficiency which denies important socioeconomic and health-service-environment dimensions that account for local differences in health-services utilization. Although this type of reform approach achieves short-term cost savings, we question whether the longer term effects on health and social services are efficient and equitable from a systemwide perspective. Ultimately, we question whether NPM will solve the problems inherent in publicly supported health and social services or will generate a new set of problems linked to the belief in the primacy of market mechanisms.

scholarly journals Treasury Single Account – Transparency and Accountability in Public Finance Management in Nigeria: The Journey So Far

2016 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 342 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. J. Igbokwe-Ibeto ◽  
Barisua Barry Nkomah ◽  
Kehinde O. Osakede ◽  
Ruth Fanny Kinge
Keyword(s):  
Public Sector ◽  
Social Services ◽  
Public Management ◽  
New Public Management ◽  
Management Approach ◽  
Finance Management ◽  
The People ◽  
New Public ◽  
The Right ◽  
Transparency And Accountability

The purpose of this article is to evaluate and critique the policy of Treasury Single Account (TSA) adopted by the Nigerian government as an essential tool for enhancing transparency and accountability in public sector financial. Theoretically, it is expected that TSA would bring about mutual benefit, halt economic injustice and engender financial discipline, transparency, accountability, a new economic and political order in Nigeria. However, in the public sector management and political economy of Nigeria,  its impact has been a mixed bag of the good, the bad and the ugly. Within the framework of New Public Management approach, the paper explores the gamut of issues surrounding the implementation of TSA and concludes that, for an administration that has social contract with Nigerians in terms of service delivery; it has the obligation to aggregating states’ resources to provide social services, amenities and infrastructural development to the people. Any step taking to ensure accountability and transparency by revenue generating agencies of government should be seen as a step in the right direction. However, while change is desirable, we feel there is need to exercise caution on account of the peculiar nature and character of the Nigerian state and society. Given the catalogue of challenges facing the operations TSA, it recommends among others, that the adoption of TSA in the country’s public sector should progress slowly and wisely. Institutions and institutional rules should be strengthened, be accountable and made autonomous of cabals and individual who might want to manipulate the system for group or personal interests.

scholarly journals Intellectual Capital and Sustainable Economic Performance in the Public Sector: The Context of the New Public Management in Malaysia

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (14) ◽  
pp. 7885
Author(s):  
Kardina Kamaruddin ◽  
Indra Abeysekera
Keyword(s):  
Public Sector ◽  
Intellectual Capital ◽  
Economic Performance ◽  
Public Management ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
New Public Management ◽  
The Public ◽  
New Public ◽  
Operational Variables ◽  
Construct Dimensions

The New Public Management allows us to reflect upon whether intellectual capital helps public sector organisations meet their performance benchmarks. Sustainable economic performance gains importance from the public sector’s service ideal. Although there have been empirical endeavours using intellectual capital as operational variables, this study examines the theoretically informed relationship between the intellectual capital construct and its construct dimensions and the sustainable economic performance construct and its construct dimensions. The decision-making inputs of senior officials in the Malaysian public sector are vital for evaluating the relationship, as these officials are the individual strategists of the collective organisational strategy. The study conducted a survey that received 1092 usable responses and analysed them using the structural equation modelling research method. The findings showed a robust theoretical relationship between intellectual capital and sustainable economic performance. Furthermore, the study identified intellectual capital items that play a vital role in supporting public sector sustainable economic performance in Malaysia under New Public Management. The findings provide useful knowledge for public sector officials and policymakers, and for further research.

scholarly journals A register of public-sector research organizations as a tool for research policy studies and evaluation

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Benedetto Lepori
Keyword(s):  
Public Sector ◽  
Public Management ◽  
New Public Management ◽  
Research Policy ◽  
Evaluation Studies ◽  
Policy Studies ◽  
Research Organizations ◽  
New Public ◽  
Public Sector Organizations ◽  
Public Sector Research

Abstract This article presents the conceptual and methodological design of a register of public-sector organizations, as well as a preliminary delineation of such organizations in Europe. Conceptual and methodological issues are discussed, as well as the potential usage of the register for interlining datasets and analysis. The significance of the register for research policy and evaluation studies is also discussed, as related with changes associated with New Public Management reforms.

scholarly journals Accounting and the post-new public management

2018 ◽  
Vol 32 (1) ◽  
pp. 255-279 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ileana Steccolini
Keyword(s):  
Public Sector ◽  
Public Administration ◽  
Public Management ◽  
New Public Management ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Public ◽  
Accounting Research ◽  
Societal Relevance ◽  
New Public ◽  
Public Sector Accounting

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to reflect various pathways for public sector accounting and accountability research in a post-new public management (NPM) context. Design/methodology/approach The paper first discusses the relationship between NPM and public sector accounting research. It then explores the possible stimuli that inter-disciplinary accounting scholars may derive from recent public administration studies, public policy and societal trends, highlighting possible ways to extend public sector accounting research and strengthen dialogue with other disciplines. Findings NPM may have represented a golden age, but also a “golden cage,” for the development of public sector accounting research. The paper reflects possible ways out of this golden cage, discussing future avenues for public sector accounting research. In doing so, it highlights the opportunities offered by re-considering the “public” side of accounting research and shifting the attention from the public sector, seen as a context for public sector accounting research, to publicness, as a concept central to such research. Originality/value The paper calls for stronger engagement with contemporary developments in public administration and policy. This could be achieved by looking at how public sector accounting accounts for, but also impacts on, issues of wider societal relevance, such as co-production and hybridization of public services, austerity, crises and wicked problems, the creation and maintenance of public value and democratic participation.

scholarly journals New public management and the rise of public sector performance audit

2018 ◽  
Vol 32 (1) ◽  
pp. 280-306 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lee D. Parker ◽  
Kerry Jacobs ◽  
Jana Schmitz
Keyword(s):  
Public Sector ◽  
Public Management ◽  
New Public Management ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Public ◽  
Key Stakeholders ◽  
New Public ◽  
Performance Audit ◽  
Performance Auditing ◽  
Strong Control

Purpose In the context of global new public management reform trends and the associated phenomenon of performance auditing (PA), the purpose of this paper is to explore the rise of performance audit in Australia and examines its focus across audit jurisdictions and the role key stakeholders play in driving its practice. Design/methodology/approach The study adopts a multi-jurisdictional analysis of PA in Australia to explore its scale and focus, drawing on the theoretical tools of Goffman. Documentary analysis and interview methods are employed. Findings Performance audit growth has continued but not always consistently over time and across audit jurisdictions. Despite auditor discourse concerning backstage performance audit intentions being strongly focussed on evaluating programme outcomes, published front stage reports retain a strong control focus. While this appears to reflect Auditors-General (AGs) reluctance to critique government policy, nonetheless there are signs of direct and indirectly recursive relationships emerging between AGs and parliamentarians, the media and the public. Research limitations/implications PA merits renewed researcher attention as it is now an established process but with ongoing variability in focus and stakeholder influence. Social implications As an audit technology now well-embedded in the public sector accountability setting, it offers potential insights into matters of local, state and national importance for parliament and the public, but exhibits variable underlying drivers, agendas and styles of presentation that have the capacity to enhance or detract from the public interest. Originality/value Performance audit emerges as a complex practice deployed as a mask by auditors in managing their relationship with key stakeholders.

scholarly journals Waiting for the next wave: trajectories, narratives and conveying the state of public sector reform

2009 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Evert Lindquist
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Public Sector ◽  
Public Management ◽  
New Public Management ◽  
Economic Transformation ◽  
The State ◽  
Government Officials ◽  
State Sector ◽  
Democratic Reform ◽  
New Public

With the adoption of the State Sector Act in 1988, the New Zealand public sector revolution was in full motion. The Act was one of many initiatives that provided a new framework for government and managing public services (Boston et al., 1996; Scott, 2001). New Zealand rapidly became the poster child for what became known as the New Public Management, and an archetype scrutinised around the world. The audacity and intellectual coherence of the New Zealand model became a standard against which the progress of other governments was judged. These reforms were part of  a larger social and economic transformation which led to dislocation and democratic reform. In the crucible of introducing and implementing these reforms, and in the inevitable re-adjustment phases, New Zealand gained a reputation for continuous reflection on its progress by its political leaders, government officials and a small band of impressive academics.

scholarly journals PERFORMANCE MEASUREMENT SYSTEMS IN THE CONTEXT OF NEW PUBLIC MANAGEMENT: EVIDENCE FROM AUSTRALIAN PUBLIC SECTOR AND POLICY IMPLICATIONS FOR DEVELOPING COUNTRIES

2017 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 7-19
Author(s):  
Anup Chowdhury ◽  
Nikhil Chandra Shil
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Public Sector ◽  
Performance Measurement ◽  
Public Management ◽  
New Public Management ◽  
Policy Implications ◽  
Measurement Systems ◽  
New Public ◽  
Performance Measurement Systems

This research explored in depth the evolution of performance measurement systems in the context of new public management initiatives in Australian public sector. A governmental department in the Australian Capital Territory was selected for the purpose of the exploration. The qualitative research approach was adopted and data was collected following case study tradition. The main data sources were archival official documents and interviews. In addition, the researchers used direct observation to supplement and corroborate the archival documents and interview data. The empirical evidence presented in this research supports the fact that the selected Australian government department has implemented performance measurement systems in the line of new public management to illustrate the department’s commitment to efficiency and accountability. The research undertaken was in-depth, using a case study and though generalization is not possible from this single case study, the findings may be expected to add knowledge to existing literature and provide some important lessons for other public sector entities of the developing countries who are interested in adopting performance measurement systems as their control devices. Keywords: public sector, performance measurement systems, new public management, developing countries, Australia.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document