Public Service Improvement

Public Service Improvement
Author: Rachel E. Ashworth
Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
Total Pages: 244
Release: 2010-04-29
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 0199545480

The performance of public services is a matter of concern in many countries. Issues of public service efficiency, cost, and effectiveness have moved to the forefront of political debate. This book applies the latest thinking from Management and Organization Studies to public organizations to examine how the public sector can perform better.

Digital Governance

Digital Governance
Author: Michael E. Milakovich
Publisher: Routledge
Total Pages: 360
Release: 2012-04-23
Genre: Political Science
ISBN: 1136718974

The application of digital information and communication technologies (ICTs) to reform governmental structures, politics, and public administration is widely and perhaps naively viewed as the twenty-first century "savior," the enlightened way to reinvigorate democracy and improve the quality of citizen services. In this timely and thorough analysis, Michael Milakovich examines the assumptions underlying the ‘e-government revolution’ in light of the financial exigencies facing many commercial enterprises, governments and other organizations. Computer-driven information and communications technologies are impacting all aspects of public sector service delivery worldwide and many governments are moving away from an agency-centric toward a more citizen-centric approach to offering online services. This book explores the transition from electronic government (e-gov) to digital or d-governance, emphasizing the importance of citizen participation and information technology to accomplish the change. The chapters concentrate on strategies for public administration organizational transformation and their implications for improved and measurable government performance. Digital self-governance is a broader umbrella-term referring to the networked extension of ICT relationships to include faster access to the web, mobile service delivery, networking, teleconferencing and use of multi-channel information technologies to accomplish higher-level two-way transactions. The shift from bureaucracy-centered to customer-centric service orientation is viewed as a means to restore public trust and improve service quality: Digital governance is the next step for governments at all levels to reduce costs, meet citizen expectations, and achieve economic recovery goals.

Competing for Influence

Competing for Influence
Author: Barry Ferguson
Publisher: ANU Press
Total Pages: 448
Release: 2019-07-12
Genre: Political Science
ISBN: 1760462764

Amidst growing dissatisfaction with the state of government performance and an erosion of trust in our political class, Competing for Influence asks: what sort of public service do we want in Australia? Drawing on his experience in both the public and private sectors – and citing academic research across the fields of public sector management, industrial organisation, and corporate strategy – Barry Ferguson argues the case for the careful selection and application of private sector management concepts to the public service, both for their ability to strengthen the public service and inform public policy. These include competitive advantage, competitive positioning, horizontal strategy and organisational design, and innovation as an all-encompassing organisational adjustment mechanism to a changeable environment. But these are not presented as a silver bullet, and Ferguson addresses other approaches to reform, including the need to rebuild the Public Sector Act, the need to reconsider the interface between political and administrative arms of government (and determine what is in the ‘public interest’), and the need for greater independence for the public service within a clarified role. This approach, and its implications for public sector reform, is contrasted with the straitjacket of path dependency that presently constricts the field.

Promoting Good Governance

Promoting Good Governance
Author: Sam Agere
Publisher: Commonwealth Secretariat
Total Pages: 160
Release: 2000
Genre: Political Science
ISBN: 9780850926293

This book aims to show that a strong and achieving public service is a necessary condition for a competitively successful nation. The concept of good governance is linked with institutionalised values such as democracy, observance of human rights and greater effectiveness of the public sector.

Public Services Delivery

Public Services Delivery
Author: World Bank
Publisher: World Bank Publications
Total Pages: 276
Release: 2005
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 9780821361405

This publication sets out a framework for analysing the performance of governments in developing countries, looking at the government as a whole and at local and municipal levels, and focusing on individual sectors that form the core of essential government services, such as health, education, welfare, waste disposal, and infrastructure. It draws lessons from performance measurement systems in a range of industrial countries to identify good practice around the world in improving public sector governance, combating corruption and making services work for poor people.

Governance in Developing Asia

Governance in Developing Asia
Author: Anil B. Deolalikar
Publisher: Edward Elgar Publishing
Total Pages: 358
Release: 2015-04-30
Genre: Political Science
ISBN: 1784715573

Governance in Developing Asia is one of the first books of its kind to provide an overview of the role that better governance and citizen empowerment can play in improving public service delivery in developing Asia. The World Development Report 2004 se

Digital Governance

Digital Governance
Author: Michael E. Milakovich
Publisher: Routledge
Total Pages: 474
Release: 2021-09-27
Genre: Political Science
ISBN: 1000456218

The application of digital information and communication technologies (ICTs) to reform governmental structures and public service is widely and perhaps naively viewed as the 21st century "savior", the enlightened way to reinvigorate democracy, reduce costs, and improve the quality of public services. This book examines the transition from e-government to digital governance in light of the financial exigencies and political controversies facing many governments. The chapters concentrate on strategies for public sector organizational transformation and policies for improved and measurable government performance in the current contentious political environment. This fully updated second edition of Digital Governance provides strategies for public officials to apply advanced technologies, manage remote workforces, measure performance, and improve service delivery in current crisis-driven administrative and political environments. The full implementation of advanced digital governance requires fundamental changes in the relationship between citizens and their governments, using ICTs as catalysts for political as well as administrative communication. This entails attitudinal and behavioral changes, secure networks, and less dependence on formal bureaucratic structures (covered in Part I of this book); transformation of administrative, educational, and security systems to manage public services in a more citizen-centric way (covered in Part II); the integration of advanced digital technologies with remote broadband wireless internet services (Part III); and the creation of new forms of global interactive citizenship and self-governance (covered in Part IV). Author Michael E. Milakovich offers recommendations for further improvement and civic actions to stimulate important instruments of governance and public administration. This book is required reading for political science, public administration, and public policy courses, as well as federal, state, and local government officials.

Building Effective Governments

Building Effective Governments
Author: Marianela Armijo
Publisher: Inter-American Development Bank
Total Pages: 277
Release: 2015-07-09
Genre: Political Science
ISBN: 1597822337

Improving public services, using State resources efficiently, and managing State agencies effectively have been ongoing concerns of Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) governments since the beginning of this century. Government officials are now paying closer attention to the results obtained by their administrations. Citizens are now demanding not only universality but also quality in the services that the State provides (e.g., education, healthcare, and legal services). To meet this growing demand for public sector effectiveness, governments have formulated new laws, created or modified institutions, and implemented innovative management methodologies and instruments.Based on data gathered in 24 countries, this book analyzes the current situation, the progress made, and the challenges still facing the governments of the region in their efforts to achieve more effective public administrations.